Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the operation of the market development fund in the Republic of Ireland with respect to possible unfair competition for United Kingdom exports into the European single market and possible subsidy implications; what consideration has been given to the implications for manufacturing firms in Northern Ireland; what representations he has made to the authorities of the Irish Republic; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeedhamOfficials in this, and other Government Departments, are watching closely the operation of the market development fund which is scheduled to terminate at the end of March 1993. My right hon. Friend raised our concerns with the Commission as soon as he heard of this scheme. These concerns included the incompatibility of the measures with the common market, the damaging effects on United Kingdom and other Community producers and the serious precedents it would set were the Commission to approve the measures. As a result of this approach, the Commission imposed a number of important restrictions on the operation of the scheme.