§ Mr. WareingTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when a decision of the European Council can be expected on the proposal to grant Merseyside objective 1 status; what is his position on this matter; what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the subject; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr.Sainsbury[holding answer 27 May 1993]: I do not expect a decision on the list of objective 1 regions for some time. The Foreign Affairs Council, which my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs attended, discussed the issue briefly and inconclusively on 8 June. The Government will continue to press their demand for objective 1 status for Merseyside.