WRITTEN QUESTION E-1487/00 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Effect of devolution in the UK on European Structural Funds.
Date: 2000-05-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Scotland, Structural Funds, Wales, decentralisation, economic consequence

C 89 E/46

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

The plan, which is complete following the latest additions, was received officially by the Commission on
1 February 2000. This date constitutes the starting point of the six-month period available to the
Commission for carrying out
the aforementioned
Regulation,
in order to achieve approval of the rural development plan as soon as possible in close
cooperation with the Italian authorities.

in accordance with Article 44(2) of

its appraisal

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 89 E/044)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1487/00

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 May 2000)

Subject: Effect of devolution in the UK on European Structural Funds

Following the recent creation of both the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly, to what extent
have these institutional changes in the system of government in the United Kingdom had an effect on the
administration and allocation of Structural Funds and the European Social Fund within the United
Kingdom?

Is the diversion of responsibility between the various governing bodies clear, and have any delays been
encountered which have hindered the effective implementation of the Structural Funds Programme?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 2000)

Scottish devolution has led to changes in the arrangements for the implementation and administration of
structural funds. Upon devolution in Scotland, the Scottish Executive assumed the administrative functions
which had previously been exercised by the Scottish Office. The day-to-day management of structural fund
programmes at government level has thus continued largely unchanged.

The principal change since devolution has been the establishment of the Scottish Parliament Europe
Committee. This has been able to provide increased democratic scrutiny of the preparations for the new
programming period at the regional level, in particular in the preparation of the plans under Objectives 1,
2 and 3, as well as the review of local programme management arrangements.

Similarly in Wales,
the National Assembly for Wales (previously the Welsh Office), has remained
responsible for the administration of structural fund programmes. However, the Wales European Pro-
gramme Executive (an independent company) has been replaced by the Wales European Funding Office
(an agency of the Assembly) to carry out the secretarial functions necessitated by the current programmes.

As in Scotland, the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales has meant that a more active
political interest is being taken in the programmes. Accordingly the Economic Development Committee of
the Assembly is kept informed of pertinent developments in programme matters.

These arrangements cannot be said to have given rise to delays in effective programme implementation.
Scottish and Welsh devolution has had no effect on the global allocation of Community resources to the
United Kingdom under the structural funds. With regard to the new Objective 2 programmes for the
United Kingdom, for the period 2000-2006, the same financial allocation per capita has been applied
across the United Kingdom.