WRITTEN QUESTION E-3205/03 by Giles Chichester (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Formal complaint re Objective 2 funding to support the Broadband4Devon Project.
Date: 2003-10-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: South West (England), Structural Funds, complaint to the Commission, financing, project management

C 70 E/236

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

(2004/C 70 E/253)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3205/03

by Giles Chichester (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 October 2003)

Subject: Formal complaint re Objective 2 funding to support the Broadband4Devon Project

Has the Commission received the formal complaint filed by Colin Coleman, of Devon, with regard to the
Objective 2 funding to support the ‘Broadband4Devon Project’ as proposed by Devon County Council?

What is the Commission doing about this issue? What is the likely timetable for a response to my
constituent?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(10 December 2003)

The Commission has received the seven letters in the course of this year from Mr Coleman dated 4 July,
8 August, 12 and 17 September, 6 and 30 October and 7 November with regard to the Objective 2
funding to support the ‘Broadband4Devon Project’ as proposed by Devon County Council. A reply was
sent directly to Mr Coleman by letter of 10 November 2003.

In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the day-to-day management of programmes supported by
the Structural Funds is a responsibility that is decentralised to the authorities in the Member States and
regions once the strategic priorities of the programme have been agreed with the Commission. Under
Article 38 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on
the Structural Funds (1) the managing authority bears the responsibility for ensuring the efficiency and
correctness of the programme’s management and implementation and, in particular, the compliance with
Community policies. The appraisal procedure used to decide funding for individual projects under the
programme was adopted by the Programme Monitoring Committee, in accordance with Article 35 of the
above Regulation and the principle of subsidiarity.

These provisions seek to ensure that applicants for support from the programmes are treated equally and
that all projects selected are in compliance with Community legislation, especially with regard to state aid
and public procurement rules.

On the basis of the information at its disposal, the Commission has no evidence of an infringement of
Community law regarding the approval of the ‘Broadband4Devon’ project.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2004/C 70 E/254)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3208/03

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 October 2003)

Subject: School funding crisis in Hillingdon and Barnet

John Randall MP and Sydney Chapman MP have approached me about the funding crisis in schools in
their respective constituencies in Hillingdon and Barnet. Because of changes to the UK Government’s
education funding formula, money has been diverted from schools in the Greater London area to the north
of England. The Government’s increases in employers’ national
insurance and pension costs have
intensified the funding crisis with many schools obliged to lay off teachers, increase class sizes or set
deficit budgets. Schools which have been particularly badly affected include Friern Barnet School, Ashmole
School and East Barnet Comprehensive.