§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the Northern Ireland Structural Funds Plan 2000–06 will be allocated to nature conservation projects; how much of this will be allocated to(a) projects relating to the Draft Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy and (b) the protection and restoration of Northern Ireland's Natura 2000 network; and if he will make a statement. [122097]
§ Mr. IngramNegotiations on the Northern Ireland Structural Funds 2000–06 and the Community Support Framework are ongoing with the European Commission and allocations to specific areas of spend will not be known until Programme Complements have been determined by the yet-to-be-appointed Monitoring Committees. The information requested is therefore not available.
Consideration is being given to including in the Structural Funds Plan measures for environmental enhancement which could embrace projects to benefit both biodiversity and Northern Ireland's Natura 2000 network.