HC Deb 19 May 1975 vol 892 cc989-91
6. Mr. Nicholas Edwards

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the Welsh share of allocations to the United Kingdom in 1974 by the EEC Social Fund; and what was the number and volume of applications to the fund submitted or approved by the Welsh Office.

10. Mr. Anderson

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make a statement about the assistance received in Wales from the European Social Fund.

Mr. John Morris

Social fund allocations for Wales amounted to £2.7 million in 1973 and £3.4 million in 1974. These sums were equivalent to 11 per cent. and 13 per cent. respectively of the United Kingdom totals. Responsibility for the submission of schemes rests with the Department of Employment.

Mr. Edwards

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware of the statement by one of the fund's administrators that they had had no applications to deal with any specific Welsh problems since our entry, that any of the sums received in 1973 and 1974 resulted from schemes undertaken on our entry and that Wales had been desperately slow in making use of the fund? If that is true, is it not deplorable bearing in mind the number of recent redundancies?

Mr. Morris

There has been nothing deplorable in this area. I do not wish to comment on newspaper reports about what a recent visitor to Wales said, but the inference to be drawn from those reports is wholly misleading. I understand that the Commission has issued a statement making it clear that it has no criticism of any kind to make of the Welsh Office, the Department of Employment or any other bodies referred to last week. I think that that tale had better be put to rest once and for all.

Mr. Anderson

Whatever allegations there have been—and I accept that the person concerned was immediately repudiated by the Commission on the matter—will my right hon. and learned Friend give an assurance that if there is a positive "Yes" vote on 5th June he will fully publicise the fund and seek financial assistance from it for the benefit of Wales?

Mr. Morris

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for what he has said. I think he will appreciate the significance of the figures. Our allocation in 1974 was 13 per cent. Of the United Kingdom total although we have only 4.5 per cent. of the United Kingdom's employment. We have done very well. Whatever funds we receive come through Government agencies. They are matched pound for pound by the Government. I think we can be very proud of what has been achieved. We shall continue on the same basis.

Mr. Wigley

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman give an assurance that if we stay in the EEC after the referendum he and his colleagues will take every possible step to ensure that links between the proposed Welsh National Assembly and European bodies are maximised so that Wales will get the maximum possible benefit from this fund and others within the EEC?

Mr. Morris

I do not know where the hon. Gentleman stands on the EEC issue, but he was conspicuous by his absence when we divided on the issue two weeks ago. It is too early for me to say anything in advance about the functions of the Assembly. I assure the hon. Gentleman that we shall do our utmost to ensure that we continue to obtain for Wales as large a share as possible of any funds that are going.

Mr. Roderick

Will my right hon. and learned Friend join me in deploring the fact that an administrator from the EEC should join in the referendum campaign? Is it not tantamount to civil servants in this country joining in our domestic General Election campaigns?

Mr. Morris

The Commission's statement to which I have just referred is a sufficient indication of the views that are held of these reports, which were thoroughly inaccurate and misleading.