§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with his ministerial counterpart in Northern Ireland about the grant allocations from the European Community structural funds for infrastructure and fish diversification projects; and if he will make a statement. [27150]
§ Mr. JackNorthern Ireland is a designated objective 1 area for EC structural purposes. A breakdown of the 15.12 mecu—£12.72 million at 15 May green rate prices—allocation for infrastructure measures and other fisheries measures is set out in the Northern Ireland single programming document 1994–99, a copy of which is available in the Library. The Northern Ireland expenditure on these measures is also set out in the UK fisheries sectoral plan 1994–99 required under EC regulation No.3699/93, which I am arranging to be placed in the Library. These documents were the subject of normal inter-departmental consultation and reflect an agreed view.
Northern Ireland plans on PESCA initiative for fish diversification projects were subject to similar consultation and are contained within the UK integrated operation programme 1994–99 which has been submitted to the European Commission for approval. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.