Consultation to encourage local areas to identify key economic priorities

The government is calling on local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) in England and local authorities in Scotland and Wales to identify their economic priorities in disadvantaged local areas.

This information will help the government to produce the 2014 to 2020 Assisted Areas Map. Assisted Areas are locations where regional aid to support businesses can be offered by public authorities under EU legislation.

Local priorities gathered in this consultation process, more details of which can be found at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/assisted-areas-map-2014-to-2020, will inform the development of a draft Assisted Area Map, which will be published as part of a second consultation in the winter.

The final Map will come into force from July 2014 after it has been agreed by UK ministers and the European Commission. The current 2007-2013 Map, which can be downloaded at www.gov.uk/government/publications/assisted-areas-in-great-britain-2007-2013, will remain in effect until 30 June 2014.

The consultation will close on Monday 30 September 2013.