asked Her Majesty's Government:What parts of the United Kingdom are designated by the European Communities as (a) less developed regions and (b) least prosperous regions.

Until the current reform of the structural funds, the term "less developed region" has not been used by the European Community. Now, however, the Commission proposes that Northern Ireland be designated as such. The United Kingdom is also pressing the cases of the Scottish Highlands and Islands and rural mid-Wales for inclusion in this category. The term "least prosperous region" is not formally used by either the European Commission or the United Kingdom.