PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
EUROPEAN REGIONAL AID BUDGET (7 July 1997)

That this House recognises the threat to European Regional Aid, currently worth one thousand million pounds per year to the UK; further recognises the threat posed by the European Commission's review of regional aid which is based upon the discredited official claimant count as a measure of unemployment; welcomes the formation of the Alliance for Regional Aid which incorporates the Coalfield Communities Campaign, Local Action for Textiles and Clothing, Steel Action and RETI; recognises its commitment to job creation and regeneration in all areas affected by industrial decline and to securing continued eligibility for what is at present the biggest single source of regeneration funds for traditional industrial areas; calls upon Her Majesty's Government to make the strongest possible representations to the European Commission to highlight the real levels of unemployment so as to protect and enhance the flow of EU Aid to Britain's Objective 2 and Industrial Objective 1 areas; and wishes the inaugural meeting of the Alliance General Assembly to be held on 10th July 1997 in the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre every success.

Sponsored by:
John Cummings (Labour)