§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what date the Single Programming Document on aid to the West Midlands was successfully submitted to the European Commission. [138445]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe Single Programming Document on aid to the West Midlands was presented to the Commission on 14 April 2000. It was confirmed as acceptable, with full retrospection of eligible spend back to 1 January 2000, in the Commission's letter of 4 May 2000 to the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will report on progress in clearing proposed EU structural funds to the West Midlands with the European Commission. [138446]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe West Midlands region will receive Structural Fund moneys through a number of channels. The bulk of these will be delivered through the Objective 2 Single Programming Document. This document is still the subject of negotiation between the Government Office for the West Midlands and the European Commission.
It is difficult to predict the precise time that the negotiations will be completed. The document is then the subject of consideration by the Commission's internal services committee, a process taking about four weeks. It is currently anticipated that the document will be presented to either the January or February committees for approval.