HC Deb 10 June 1981 vol 6 cc141-2W
Mr. Jim Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for Employment to what extent there is European Community funding of national employment services within the Community; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The European social fund provides assistance for schemes to help mainly the unemployed or those threatened with unemployment; many such schemes are administered by the national employment services of member States. The United Kingdom Government welcome the operations of the fund, which have been of significant benefit to training and employment in this country.

Mr. Jim Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the total sums received by the United Kingdom in the years 1979 and 1980 from the European Economic Community social fund; and what proportion this represented of schemes to train workers and increase the mobility of labour.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Allocations to the United Kingdom from the European social fund in 1979 and 1980 were £130.3 million and £135.3 million respectively. It is not possible to say what proportion these allocations represent of all employment and training schemes in the United Kingdom.