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EU Structural Funds (Scotland)

Mr. Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what protocols have been agreed between his Department and the Scottish Office in relation to the expenditure of European Structural Funds in Scotland and compliance with rules and conditions imposed by the European Union; and how he intends to apply such protocols to the funding of the proposed funicular railway on the Cairngorm. [85263]

Mr. Wills: There are no protocols agreed between my Department and the Scottish Office relating to European Structural Funds; the two Departments are working closely together to consider the impact of devolution. Administration of the Structural Funds in Scotland and funding of individual projects there are a matter for the Scottish Office.

Fuel Costs

Dr. Marek: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will request the Director General of Electricity Supply and Gas Supply to produce figures for the average annual cost of fuel used by (a) pensioners and (b) other domestic users. [84786]

Mr. Battle [holding answer 20 May 1999]: Energy consumption varies from household to household across the whole population. It is dependent on many factors, such as energy efficiency of the home, time spent in the property, size of property etc. Accurate and timely data on energy consumption by pensioners are not available.

Annual fuel bills for typical and low-volume household consumers are presented in the table. Bills are based on latest 1999 prices and include VAT.

		£
	Electricity	Gas
Typical consumption(7)	263.70	302.59
Low volume consumption(8)	187.68	218.78

(7) Annual consumption 3,300 kWh for electricity, 18,000 kWh for gas

(8) Annual consumption 2,200 kWh for electricity, 12,000 kWh for gas

Partnership Fund

Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give further details about the proposed Partnership Fund. [85474]

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Mr. Byers: The Government intend to make available up to £5 million over the next four years through the Partnership Fund. The fund will help develop partnerships at work by supporting partnership projects in the workplace and encouraging the spread of information about best practice.

Statutory authority for funding in this area is being sought through Clause 26 of the Employment Relations Bill. Support will be available for up to 50 per cent. of total eligible costs of individual projects, up to a limit of £50,000 support per project. It will be a requirement of support that projects should have matching funding of at least 50 per cent. from non-public sector sources.

The Fund will be launched and a first call for proposals announced once the Employment Relations Bill has received Royal Assent.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

National Lottery (Scotland)

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of National Lottery Funds distributed by Scottish local authority area for each year since the National Lottery was set up. [84366]

Mr. Banks: To date 6,164 awards worth a total of £615,445,091 have been made in Scotland. This total includes Scotland-wide projects and projects which cannot be allocated to a particular local authority. A breakdown by Scottish local authorities for each distributing body has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Awards information is also available on the Lottery website at www.lottery.culture.gov.uk.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

General Affairs Council

Mr. Rammell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 17 and 18 May; and if he will make a statement. [85240]

Ms Quin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I attended the General Affairs Council and the EU/Russia Co-operation Council on 17 May. There was a meeting of the European Economic Area Council on the 18 May. The Council adopted the A points listed in document 8136/99 and noted the resolutions, decisions and opinions adopted by the European Parliament in its sessions of 12-16 April, listed in document 7187/99. Copies of the documents listing the A points and resolutions will be placed in the House Libraries as soon as they become available.

Western Balkans

The Council adopted conclusions regretting President Milosevic's failure to accept the international community's conditions; reiterating its support for the elected government of Montenegro; welcoming President Ahtisaari's mission; stressing the need for a UN Security Council Resolution; highlighting the need for EU assistance to reach Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro quickly; and agreeing to begin work on an EU Common Strategy on the

24 May 1999 : Column: 24

Western Balkans. The Council also agreed that a Stability Pact for South East Europe should be established, and endorsed a draft text as the basis for further talks between the EU and other parties to the Pact.

EU/Charter of Rights

The Council had a preliminary discussion of Presidency proposals for an EU Charter of Rights. There will be further discussion at the 31 May GAC.

Institutional reform

The Council discussed the timing, scope and preparation of an inter-governmental conference, as envisaged by the Protocol on reform of the Institutions annexed to the Amsterdam Treaty. Final decisions will be taken by the Cologne European Council.

Common European Policy on Security and Defence

Ministers also discussed a draft Presidency report which will be submitted to the Cologne European Council. The report sets out principles to be observed when considering possible new defence arrangements allowing the European Union to take on crisis management, peace-keeping and conflict prevention tasks.

EU/US Relations

The Commission reported on the latest developments in the beef hormones dispute. The Council stressed the importance of handling the dispute in a constructive and positive manner and invited the Commission to intensify contacts with the US and Canada. The Council encouraged further efforts to secure agreement on compensation should the US and Canada pursue WTO authorisation for retaliatory measures. The Council welcomed the Commission's intention to evaluate, with Member States, possible next steps and to keep the Council fully informed.

EU Assistance to Central America

Council agreed the general outline of a Commission Action Plan to provide assistance to Central America in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. Ministers welcomed the opportunity to discuss the plan with the beneficiary countries at the EU/Central America Ministerial in Bonn on 20 May. The Council agreed that the indicative amount of 250 meuro in the Commission plan was without prejudice to the overall spending allocations under Category 4 (external expenditure) of the EC budget. The Council invited the Commission to bring forward an assessment of external spending priorities for the period 2000-2006.

EU/Egypt

The Council reviewed the progress made in the latest negotiating round with Egypt. The relevant Council bodies will examine the current package further with a view to conclusion at the 31 May GAC if at all possible.

Russia Common Strategy

Ministers agreed a Common Strategy on Russia, which will be submitted for adoption to the Cologne European Council. It sets clear objectives for the EU's relations with Russia with the aim of supporting democratic and economic reforms, and enhancing co-operation with Russia on international affairs and on matters of common concern such as organised crime and environmental problems.

East Timor

Ministers agreed the need for a substantial EU contribution to the UN Trust Fund for East Timor and asked the Commission to look urgently at options for funding.

Belarus

The Council adopted a declaration calling on the Government of Belarus to enter into political dialogue with the opposition.

Nigeria

In view of the progress made towards the transition to democracy and the impending installation of civilian Government the Council decided to repeal the EU Common Position on Nigeria (98/614/CFSP) containing the remaining sanctions with effect from 1 June 1999.

24 May 1999 : Column: 25

EU/Russia Co-operation Council

The EU Common Strategy on Russia, and Kosovo, were the main topics discussed at the EU/Russia Co-operation Council on 17 May. Detailed points implementation of the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement will be dealt with at the next meeting of the Co-operation Committee.

European Economic Area Council

The 11th EEA Council assessed the functioning of the EEA Agreement, reviewed developments in regional issues and European integration, and discussed political issues.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the nature of the social security provision agreed at the Luxembourg General Affairs Council of 26 and 27 April. [83930]

Ms Quin: From time to time it is necessary to amend the EC Regulations, which co-ordinate the operation of Member States' social security schemes, to take account of changes in legislation of the Member States or to effect improvements in the provisions where a deficiency in the existing arrangements comes to light. The social security provisions agreed at the Luxembourg General Affairs Council on 26 and 27 April related to amendments of this type. The only amendment of direct concern to the UK was to an Annex of the co-ordinating Regulations. This was to clarify which is the competent State for payment of UK Family Credit and Irish Family Income Supplement for workers who are resident in Ireland and work in the UK, or vice versa.

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