General
Assisted areas are those areas designated as development and intermediate areas under section 1 of the Industrial Development Act 1982. This power to designate assisted areas is exercised by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry where for economic, social or other reasons of regional policy, additional measures to promote their economic development are considered appropriate. The designation of such areas applies for the purposes of any other Act which refers to development or intermediate areas (e.g. the Derelict Land Act 1982) as well as for the purposes of the 1982 Act.
The Treaty of Rome prohibits state aids that are incompatible with the Common Market. As part of its guidelines on this the European Commission require that particular areas eligible for differing levels of regional state aid should be agreed with the Commission. As a result of the reservation of International and European relations in Part I, paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 negotiations on defining such areas throughout the UK will be a matter for the UK Government, who will, by virtue of this reservation, also be responsible for giving effect to the areas as approved by the Commission.
The 1982 Act also provides for the provision of financial assistance to industry both within assisted areas and more generally. Financial assistance to industry is not reserved, subject to compliance with European Commission guidelines on state aids. Under section 56(1), however, a Minister of the Crown will continue to be able to exercise powers to provide financial assistance to industry under the Industrial Development Act 1982 and other enactments.