§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on his responsibilities in relation to the INTERREG programme; [138211]
(2) what responsibilities regarding co-operation with the Irish Government to maximise the benefit which comes to Wales from the INTERREG Scheme are exercised by him; and what responsibilities are devolved to the National Assembly. [138210]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThe United Kingdom Government retains responsibility for negotiating Structural Funds Regulations in the EU Council of Ministers, (involving the devolved administrations as necessary in accordance with the overarching concordat on co-ordination of EU policy issues). It was the UK Government, for example, which secured agreement to the Agenda 2000 package and the continued existence of INTERREG.
The National Assembly for Wales is responsible for the administration in Wales of European Structural Funds programmes and for developing and implementing the INTERREG programme with Ireland.
I am keen to promote the benefits and take-up of Structural Funds programmes in Wales. To that end, I discussed a range of Structural Funds issues during my visit to Ireland with the First Minister earlier this year.