Assisted Areas (Hansard, 15 March 1999)

§ Mr. Canavan
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the representations received by his Department from Scottish local authorities regarding the review of assisted area status. [75915]

§ Mr. Wills
Representations were received from the following Scottish Local Authorities:

Aberdeen City Council

Aberdeenshire Council

Angus Council

Argyll and Bute Council

Clackmannanshire Council

Dumfries and Galloway Council

Dundee City Council

East Ayrshire Council

East Lothian Council

Edinburgh City Council

Falkirk Council

Fife Council

Glasgow City Council

Highland Council

Inverclyde Council

Midlothian Council

The Moray Council

North Ayrshire Council

North Lanarkshire Council

Orkney Council

Perth and Kinross Council

Renfrewshire Council

Scottish Borders Council

Shetland Islands Council

South Ayrshire Council

South Lanarkshire Council

Stirling Council

West Dumbartonshire Council

West Lothian Council.

§ Mr. Canavan
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to make his recommendations on the review of assisted area status known to (i) the Scottish Office and (ii) the European Commission. [75914]
476W

§ Mr. Wills
The review of Assisted Area status is being carried out in consultation with other Government Departments including the Scottish Office. Under the European Guidelines a new Assisted Areas map for the UK must operate from 1 January 2000. Changes to the Assisted Areas map must be agreed with the Commission, and they have asked for proposals from Member States by 31 March. Ministers are currently considering which proposals they will put forward.