To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much in European regional aid structural funding was allocated to Northern Ireland for 2000 to 2006; how much of this funding had been spent by 31 December 2008; and whether a request was made to the European Commission to extend the spending deadline beyond this date.

The information is not available in the form requested. I am advised by the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland, which has responsibility for these matters, that European regional aid structural funding of €1,434,485,611 (approx £1,141,541,061) was provided for the period 2000-08.

In the UK, managing authorities made the decision whether to extend their programmes. BERR officials consolidated those requests (which included a request from Northern Ireland) in a letter to the European Commission. This letter included the request to extend the Northern Ireland Objective 1 transitional programme and the Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland INTERREG Strand A programme.