HC Deb 07 November 2002 vol 392 cc857-8W
Ms Walley

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what development projects in the UK receive funding from the(a) European Investment Bank and (b) European Regional Development Fund, and when these projects will be completed; and what development projects in the UK with funding from the (i) European Investment Bank and (ii) European Regional Development Fund will start in the next six months. [77676]

Alan Johnson

[holding answer 28 October 2002]I have been asked to reply.

In 2001, the European Investment Bank invested €2,337 million (£1,469 million) in respect of projects in the UK. This comprised individual loans (for projects in a single sector or region) of €1,734 million (£1,090 million) and global loans (for projects covering more than one sector and/or region) of €603 million (£379 million). Individual loans focused on energy (€144 million (£91 million)), communications

(€736 million (£463 million)); three-quarters of which were for improvement of telecommunications networks, water management, together with urban infrastructure (€641 million (£403 million)) and health and education (€212 million (£133 million)). Information on individual projects has been published in the EIB's Annual Report 2001, a copy of which is available in the Library. Information on the EIB's project pipeline is available on the EIB website (www.eib.org). This includes information on loans signed, approved and under appraisal. Annual Reports can also be accessed from the website.

A total of €8,434 million (£5.174 million) will be available from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for projects in the UK over the current funding period, 2000–06. As with the European Investment Bank funding, detailed information on individual projects could be obtained only at disproportionate cost as it is not held centrally by the DTL However, if you are interested in a particular ERDF or EIB-backed project, please write to me again and I will endeavour to obtain the relevant information.