§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many claims for the payment of(a> European Regional Development Fund and (b) Social Fund grants in Scotland 571W dating from (i) before 1994, (ii) 1994, (iii) 1995, (iv) 1996, (v) 1997 and (vi) 1998 are still unpaid; and what is the total sum involved for each year. [79919]
§ Mr. Macdonald[holding answer 20 April 1999]: At 31 March 1999, the unpaid ERDF and ESF claims with my Department were as set out in the table:
Number Amount (£) ERDF Pre-1994 23 318,087 1994 5 275,768 1995 20 1,048,450 1996 66 908,310 1997 18 552,735 1998 268 8,513,577 ESF Pre-1994 0 0 1994 0 0 1995 0 0 1996 32 7,234,989 1997 48 5,465,446 1998 651 25,826,251 Of the ERDF claims, some 173 have been delayed because the claims are subject of queries, or where the applicants are due to refund payments or other grants to the Department, or where there are other technical reasons why the claims are currently invalid for payment. In addition, the 28 claims from pre-1994 and 1994 relate to old pre-1994 programmes which became liable for payment only in February of this year. They will of course be paid as soon as possible. Most of the unpaid ESF claims for 1996 and 1997 relate to Government sector training programmes final payments for which, in terms of the appropriate European Regulations, are not due until after 31 March 1999. The unpaid 1998 claims largely comprise final claims, which could be submitted only after 31 December 1998, and are currently being processed by the Department in the normal way.
From 1 July 1999, the administration of European Structural Funds will be the responsibility of the Scottish Administration.