§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of EC grants available for 1992 remain unclaimed by the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryI have been asked to reply.
As EC grants made under the structural funds are allocated on a multiannual basis, no annual figures for grants actually claimed are available. However, of the structural funds allocated to the United Kingdom for the period 1989–93, approximately 80 per cent. have been committed to projects. The remaining 20 per cent. is expected to be committed before the end of the year. Since there is no allocation specific to the United Kingdom in respect of other EC expenditure it is not possible to say what percentage of grants intended for the United Kingdom has been claimed.