Assisted Areas Map (Angus)

HC Deb 12 June 2000 vol 351 c463W

Mr. Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he will take to offset the losses to Angus if the revised assisted area boundaries proposals are introduced. [123576]

Mr. Caborn

None. Local economic development is a matter for the Scottish Executive.

Mr. Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what analysis he has made of the impact on the local economy of the loss of assisted area status to the four Angus wards. [123577]

Mr. Caborn

The needs of all areas including Angus were considered in drawing the revised assisted area proposals.

Mr. Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason the four Angus wards were included on the original assisted area map submitted in July 1999; and what economic factors have changed in the meantime to form the basis for their exclusion from the revised map. [123579]

Mr. Caborn

The exclusion of the four Angus wards from the revised assisted areas proposals did not reflect a change in the needs of those wards but rather was a consequence of changes made to meet the European Commission's concerns about our July proposals.