§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what(a) amount and (b) proportion of overall EU objective 1 budget for the UK has been (i) committed and (ii) spent according to the latest records in each of the four objective 1 regions. [14452]
§ Alan JohnsonThe figures in the table are the latest available commitments and payments made under the EU structural funds for each of the objective 1 regions. Payments under the programmes lag behind commitments because the fund regulations require ERDF expenditure to be defrayed before it is claimed. ESF projects may receive an advance payment at the beginning of the project but subsequent ESF payments take place after expenditure has been defrayed.
The management of the objective 1 programme for West Wales and the Valleys is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales. However, I understand from the National Assembly that the figures for this region are as set out in the table.
Region Committed grant(£ million)
Spent grant (£ million)
Proportion of regional objective 1
budget
(Percentage)
Cornwall and the Scilly Isles 60 5.98 19.53/1.95 Merseyside 164.73 30.68 20.14/3.75 South Yorkshire 92.5 13.046 12.86/1.81 West Wales and the Valleys 260 30.4 24/2.7