EU: Structural and Cohesion Funds

Lord Harrison Excerpts

Wednesday 8th February 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wilcox]

I do not happen to have the figures to hand on how much it costs us. I will happily write to the noble Lord.

[Lord Harrison]

Is it not in the British interest that we support the help to poorer countries of the European Union so that they can participate in the single market actively and bring their standards of living up so that eventually British firms and services can be provided within the European Union for our benefit?

[Baroness Wilcox]

I completely agree with the noble Lord. The aim of the structural and cohesion funds as set out in the EU treaty was to reduce disparities between regions to create a more cohesive single European market. Structural funds have helped to underpin enlargement of the European Union, opening up new markets in central and eastern Europe to British companies. We have done very well by that.