§ Mr. CasaleTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact on rural communities of the Commission's Agenda 2000 proposals for reform of the structural funds. [42724]
§ Mrs. RocheIt will not be possible to make such an assessment until the Commission publishes its detailed financial plans for individual Member States. The Commission's Agenda 2000 proposals are complex; we will also need further details from the Commission on the new Structural Fund framework, the related rural development measures, and proposed rural Community Initiative before we are able to make an assessment. One of the Government's objectives is to see that there is a sensible balance between rural and urban areas, which will be helped if Member States have flexibility in administering the funds.