§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What funds they expect Northern Ireland to receive from the EC Cohesion Fund and when; whether there will be restrictions or guidelines on the expenditure of such funds; and whether the northern section of the Belfast to Dublin rail line and the Belfast Cross-City link will benefit.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (The Earl of Arran)This fund was agreed at Maastricht as part of the new Treaty on European Union. It was set up to provide funds in the fields of environment and trans-European networks (in the transport area) in member states with a GNP per head of less than 90 per cent. of the Community average. Those member states qualifying under this criterion are Greece, Spain, Portugal and the Republic of Ireland. The UK does not qualify and therefore Northern Ireland will not benefit from the fund.