HC Deb 13 May 1996 vol 277 cc336-7W
Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the amount of money which would be available to British firms(a) in total, (b) with fewer than 100 employees, (c) with fewer than 50 employees and (d) with fewer than 10 employees, from the European Union if Britain had applied for objective 4 status.[28748]

Mr. Forth

The amount of support available under any objectives depends on the terms of the programme, which is agreed with the Commission in respect of that objective. Since the Government have not negotiated such an agreement in relation to objective 4, it is impossible to estimate which firms would be eligible.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the number of British firms(a) in total, (b) with fewer than 100 employees, (c) with fewer than 50 employees and (d) with fewer than 10 employees, which would be eligible for European Union aid under objective 4. [28749]

Mr. Forth

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier.