HC Deb 04 November 1998 vol 318 c585W
Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future European Structural Funds regime for Staffordshire. [57943]

Mrs. Roche

The negotiations with the Commission and other Member States on the reform of the Structural and Cohesion Funds for 2000–06 are continuing. It is too early to predict the outcome for individual regions. Only when negotiations are complete will the future Structural and Cohesion Funds regime be known. In June 1998 the European Council set a deadline for agreement of the end of March 1999.

The Government will continue to negotiate vigorously for a fair and affordable deal for the UK and its regions.