HC Deb 20 January 2003 vol 398 cc5-6W
Mr. Weir

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to revise the withdrawal of assisted area status from Arbroath by the implementation of the Assisted Area Order 2000. [91769]

Alan Johnson

The European Commission's approval of the Assisted Areas map in Great Britain lasts until the end of 2006. It is not possible to increase the coverage in one area without reducing it in another. This would be likely to require an overall review of the map and new negotiations with the Commission, with no assurance that any particular area could be covered. The Government are therefore not planning to review the Assisted Areas map until it is necessary to develop proposals for the subsequent period.

Mr. Weir

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to revise the Assisted Areas map for Scotland through the Assisted Area Order 2000, prior to the expiry of that Act. [91770]

Alan Johnson

The Government have no plans to revise the Assisted Areas map before it is necessary to develop proposals for the period following the expiry of the European Commission's approval of the current map at the end of 2006.