§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment at what stage is Teesside airport's bid to gain the funding from the ERDF; and what guidelines he proposes to issue in respect of future bids by airports for funds from the ERDF. [24979]
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§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe application from Teesside airport for ERDF grant is being considered alongside other bids which have been submitted under the north-east objective 2 structural funds programme for funding. There are no proposals to issue guidelines in respect of future bids by airports for funds from ERDF.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has made to the European Commission to reconsider the priority that airports have within the European regional development fund. [24976]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordNone.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what(a) European and (b) national alternatives there are for bidders who fail to gain funds for capital projects from the European regional development fund through overbidding. [24978]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordCompetitive bidding for resources available under the structural funds programme plays a major part in ensuring good value for money. Bids for European regional development fund grants have generally exceeded the resources available under current programmes. This has helped to ensure that grant has been made only to those projects which best met the aims and objectives of each programme. Bids which fail to gain ERDF funding may be eligible to receive resources available under other European or national programmes. However, this will depend very much on the activity concerned and whether this is eligible for support under a particular programme.