§ Mr. CarmichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 8 December 2003,Official Report, 798W column 245W, on the European Constitution, what assessment the Government have made of the impact of the territorial cohesion provisions in the draft EU Constitution Treaty on applications from peripheral and insular areas for regional European support and state aid; and what discussions his Department has held with local government representatives from Highland and Island councils on this subject. [143985]
§ Mr. MacShaneWe do not expect the references to "territorial cohesion" to have any impact on existing arrangements for the structural funds and regional aid. The devolved administrations have throughout been closely associated with the development of government policy towards the IGC, and are also involved in the development of UK positions on structural funds and state aid.
§ Mr. BestTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects discussions on the European Constitution to reach a conclusion. [144332]
§ Mr. MacShaneIn the light of the outcome of the meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference on 12–13 December, we expect discussions on the timetable of the negotiations to be taken forward by the future Irish presidency.