§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will amend his regional aid map proposals to bring them into line with EU rules. [115839]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 22 March 2000]:Discussions with the Commission on a new regional aid map are continuing. The new regional aid map must be approved by the Commission.
190W
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if regional aid can be paid prior to the regional aid map being approved. [115961]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 23 March 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Crausby) on 21 December 1999, Official Report, column 465W.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how large a reduction in the number of people covered by the regional aid map the United Kingdom is required to make. [116595]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 28 March 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope) on 31 March 1999, Official Report, columns 804-05W.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Alchemy has applied for regional selective assistance for the Longbridge site. [116218]
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much regional aid money will be available in the financial year 2000–01 for(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) the UK. [116216]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 24 March 2000]: The figures for England will be set out in the DTI's Expenditure Plans, Command Document 4611, which we expect to publish on 11 April. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House. Expenditure in Scotland and Wales is a devolved matter.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much regional aid he plans to spend in the budget year 2000–01 in(a) the North-East, (b) Devon, (c) Cornwall and (d) the West Midlands. [115963]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 23 March 2000]: Details of regional aid will be set out in the DTI's Expenditure Plans, Command Document 4611, which we expect to publish on 11 April. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to meet the EU Commissioner to discuss the regional aid map. [115837]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 22 March 2000]: Commissioner Monti and I have regular contact on a range of issues including the regional aid map. I last met him on 2 March 2000 when we discussed the regional aid map.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is able to make regional aid available to Alchemy to invest at Longbridge on the same basis as was proposed for BMW. [115838]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 22 March 2000]: The area in which Longbridge is located will qualify for Regional Selective Assistance.