§ LORD O'HAGANasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will apply for the maximum British entitlement to the extended social fund of the E.E.C. for assistance towards social problems connected with community relations and migrant workers.
§ LORD HUGHESYes.
§ LORD O'HAGANasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the United Kingdom is the only Member State of the E.E.C. to propose that the social fund of the E.E.C. should not cover professional training for third country nationals: and whether they are aware that this proposal, if adopted, would debar from benefit British citizens without the right of abode in the United Kingdom.
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§ LORD HUGHESThe question does not arise. The Article 4 Scheme for migrant workers which is at present being discussed by the Council of Ministers does not propose that assistance from the European Social Fund should be made available in respect of training of third country migrants. Such assistance under the terms of the Scheme is restricted to workers moving between Member States.
§ LORD O'HAGANasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they prepare applications for the social fund of the E.E.C.; and how much they propose to devolve this preparation to those regions, areas and localities of the United Kingdom most in need and most likely to qualify.
§ LORD HUGHESApplications are prepared by the organisations or bodies carrying out the operations in respect of which assistance from the fund is sought. In the case of national programmes the Government Department responsible prepares the applications in consultation with the regions or areas chiefly concerned. In the case of bodies outside Central Government, Departments are ready to advise and assist in the preparation of suitable applications. The rules of the fund provide, however, that all applications must be transmitted to the Commission by the Member State.
§ LORD O'HAGANasked Her Majesty's Government:
From which sections of the provisions of the extended social fund of the E.E.C. relating to migrant workers they propose to exclude third country nationals; and how many British citizens under each section will be excluded from benefit, if such proposals are adopted.
§ LORD HUGHESThe Article 4 Scheme for migrant workers prepared by the E.E.C. Commission and under discussion between member Governments proposes that limited financial aid for the reception and initial integration of third country migrant workers should be made available from the social fund. In the absence of any common policy within the Community governing entry from third countries, Her Majesty's Government have expressed doubts whether the fund should be used to support national expenditure 1675WA on third country migrants. It is not possible to say how many British citizens would be affected by the Scheme, though it might be considerably less than in some other Community countries.