HC Deb 09 February 2000 vol 344 cc208-9W
Judy Mallaber

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultation he has held relating to the future of EU structural funds allocated to Northern Ireland. [107682]

Dr. Howells

Throughout the negotiations on the new European Structural Funds Regulation my Department consulted with Ministers and officials of the Department of Finance and Personnel, Northern Ireland.

Following the special deal agreed for Northern Ireland at the Berlin European Council, the Department of Finance and Personnel consulted my officials on their Structural Funds Plan, which was lodged with the Commission on 15 November 1999. Negotiations with the Commission on a new Community Support Framework are expected to begin soon.

A public consultation was held to determine the United Kingdom's new eligible areas for Objective 2 European Funding. The consultation document was issued jointly on behalf of several Government Departments, one of which was the Department of Finance and Personnel, Northern Ireland.