asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total sums lent to public authorities and public and private enterprises in the United Kingdom in 1981 through the European Investment Bank; what was the regional breakdown of these loans in that year; and what proportion of total lending by the European Investment Bank went to the United Kingdom in 1981.
In 1981 the European Investment Bank lent £142·6 million to the United Kingdom, including £20 million from the New Community Instrument which the EIB administers on behalf of the European Commission. This was 7·5 per cent. of total lending by the European Investment Bank for projects within the Community. £72·6 million was lent to public authorities, £56 million to public enterprises and £14 million to private enterprises. The regional breakdown of loans to the United Kingdom in 1981 was as follows:
| Region | Public Authorities £ million | Public Enterprises £ million | Private Enterprises £ million |
| North-East | *20 | ||
| Yorkshire & Humberside | 1 | 4·5 | |
| North-West | 14·1 | 1·5 | |
| South-West | 6 | 3 | |
| Scotland | 25 | ||
| Northern Ireland | 5 | ||
| Multiregional† | 2·5 | 55 | |
| Global loans | 5 | ||
| Total | 72·6 | 56 | 14 |
| * from the New Community Instrument. | |||
| † loans covering more than one region; for example, railway and electricity distribution projects. | |||