To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much European regional aid structural funding was allocated to England between 2000 and 2006; how much of this funding had been spent by 31 December 2008; whether a request was made to the European Commission to extend the spending deadline beyond that date; and if she will make a statement.

The 2000-06 round of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programmes in England were allocated €5793 million. Over 2,900 claims by projects for reimbursement of ERDF expenditure are being processed, more made up to 31 December 2008 are still being received and we do not yet have final figures for any of the 20 English programmes.

Government did not request extension of the spending deadline for any of the European Structural Funds programmes operating in England.