To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has made to the European Commission on the subject of European funding.
My predecessor met with Commissioner Milian on 15 March and also with Commissioners Steichen, Ruberti and Flynn on 2 April to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest. He also wrote to Commissioner Matutues since it proved impossible for them to meet. In each instance he invited them to visit
| 1988–89 | 1990–91 | 1991–92 | 1992–93 | |||||||||
| Local Authorities Grant Receiving Bellwin2 | Grant paid | Per cent | Threshold | Grant paid | Per cent | Threshold | Grant paid | Per cent | Threshold | Grant paid | Per cent | Threshold |
| £ | 1 | £ | £ | 1 | £ | £ | 1 | £4 | £6 | 1 | £ | |
| Dyfed CC | 204,726 | 75 | 621,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Colwyn | — | — | — | 527,726 | 85 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| — | — | — | 772,017 | 95 | 14,200 | 274,649 | 95 | — | — | — | — | |
| Rhuddlan | — | — | — | 195,892 | 85 | 14,246 | 340,236 | 85 | — | — | — | — |
| Torfaen | — | — | — | 32,164 | 75 | 22,307 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Preseli Pembs | — | — | — | 111,683 | 75 | 16,771 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Swansea | — | — | — | 3,764 | 75 | 44,882 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Merthyr | — | — | — | 46,573 | 75 | 14,128 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ynys Mon | — | — | — | 23,448 | 85 | 16,069 | 7,155 | 85 | — | — | — | — |
| Neath | — | — | — | 612 | 75 | 16,046 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Islwyn | — | — | — | 30,659 | 75 | 15,899 | — | — | — | 40,008 | 85 | 19,800 |
| Lliw Valley | — | — | — | 3,128 | 75 | 15,042 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Newport3 | — | — | — | 2,838 | 75 | 32,706 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Aberconwy | — | — | — | 3,292 | 85 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| — | — | — | 246,352 | 95 | 13,357 | 9,232 | 95 | — | — | — | — | |
| Delyn | — | — | — | 14,137 | 95 | 16,275 | 850 | 95 | — | — | — | — |
| Clwyd | — | — | — | — | — | — | 298,041 | 95 | — | — | — | — |
| Dwyfor | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13,253 | 75 | 59,000 | — | — | — |
| Blaenau Gwent | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20,813 | 85 | 23,080 |
| Rhondda | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7,940 | 85 | 23,872 |
| Cynon Valley | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24,102 | 85 | 19,806 |
| Total | 204,726 | — | — | 2,014,285 | — | — | 943,416 | — | — | 92,863 | — | — |
Notes:
1 Percentage rate of eligible expenditure.
2 There was no Bellwin expenditure in 1989–90.
3 Newport repaid all its grant in 1991–92 following audited claim (money surrendered to CFER).
Wales but we must wait and see whether these invitations are taken up. I also intend, however, to visit Brussels later in the year and to meet a number of the Commissioners.