Murray Ritchie writes from Brussels: The new map was published after

the EC Commission gave its formal approval, ending weeks of wrangling

with the Government.

EC approval is required for all assisted areas in the Community to

ensure that state aids do not breach European competiton law.

Various objections had been raised by the Commission, mainly involving

the Government's methods of compiling statistics tending to support the

need to include areas in the Tory strongholds in the South.

In a statement timed to coincide with publication of the map in the

UK, the Commission said it had decided not to raise any objections. This

followed several negotiating sessions with Mr Sainsbury, deputising

during Mr Michael Heseltine's recuperation.

Mr Karel van Miert, EC Commissioner for Competition, said the EC

executive had remained faithful to its policy of restricting coverage of

eligible regions to those in greatest need, to avoid excessive disperal

of aid and a subsidy race.

''Both would be harmful to Community firms as a whole while taking

account of recent economic trends,'' Mr Van Miert said.