§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of the proportion of EU structural funding proposed for rural areas under the European guidelines on regional aid published in March 1998. [66142]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 18 January 1999]: The Commission's draft regulation for the Structural and Cohesion Funds for post 1999 propose that rural areas could be eligible for funding under Objectives 1, 2 and 3. There is also a proposal for a Community Initiative for rural development. There are no details of proportions of funding available to rural or any other areas at a national level.
284WThe Guidelines on Regional Aid, published by the Commission in March 1998, cover the review of Assisted Areas which is the subject of a separate exercise. No decisions have been yet made on areas which might be eligible after 1 January 2000.