§ Mr. WhiteTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about his plans for processing applications for regional selective assistance within the existing assisted areas map which is due to be replaced on 1 January 2000 in accordance with the EU Guidelines on Regional State Aid. [97784]
§ Mr. CabornUnder the European Commission's new regional aid guidelines all offers of Regional Selective Assistance under the existing Assisted Area map must be made by 31 December 1999. In order, therefore, to allow sufficient time for the processing of cases, no new applications for Regional Selective Assistance under the existing map will be accepted after 17.00 hours on 30 November 1999. This cut-off date will apply to applications across the whole of the GB map.