To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much Rechar money has been (a) approved by his Department, (b) granted to and (c) spent in (i) the east midlands and (ii) Nottingham, since the inception of the scheme; and if he will list the projects and their cost in each category.

I have been asked to reply.A total of 280 applications have so far been received for the east midlands Rechar programme, seven of which relate to Nottingham. To date, 104 applications, worth £7·6 million in European regional development fund grant, have been approved. Some £2·7 million has been paid. The remaining applications are being evaluated, and if approved as submitted would attract grant of £2·05 million. In Nottingham one project has been approved with a grant of £0·08 million.