§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the precise specifications of the new NUTS 2 areas in Wales; if Eurostat has accepted these areas for the purposes of evaluating structural fund allocations for the period 2000 to 2006; and if he will estimate the value of European structural funds which have been paid to projects within each of the new NUTS 2 areas in Wales during the last five years, or during such similar period for which figures are conveniently available. [48825]
§ Mr. HainA list of the precise specifications of the new UK NUTS areas can be found in the Government Statistical Service Press Notice of 29 June, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. The European Commission has proposed that NUTS 2 and 3 areas be used to draw up the new EU Structural Funds 505W map for the period 2000 to 2006. The Government expect that the new UK NUTS boundaries will be used. The information on Structural Funds expenditure over the past five years, within the new NUTS 2 areas, would be available only at a disproportionate cost.