HL Deb 16 December 1987 vol 491 cc817-8WA
Lord O'Hagan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What benefit the Manpower Services Commission has received from the European Social Fund in each of the last five years.

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Lord Young of Graffham)

The following allocations have been made from the European Social Fund in respect of Manpower Services Commission programmes in each of the last 5 years:

1983 £225,597,975
1984 £236,066,609
1985 £165,832,158
1986 £151,124,728
1987 £254,649,128

Lord O'Hagan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they consider that the Manpower Services Commission has drawn sufficient attention to the benefits it has received from the European Social Fund.

Lord Young of Graffham

The 1986–87 Annual Report published by the Manpower Services Commission acknowledges the European Social Fund contribution to its programmes. Department of Employment and Manpower Services Commission officials are currently discussing ways of improving publicity for 1988 social fund applications.

Lord O'Hagan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they have recently taken to increase public awareness of the assistance provided by the European Social Fund to the Manpower Services Commission and its activities.

Lord Young of Graffham

On 27th July, the Department of Employment issued a press release about the European Commission's decision on the European Social Fund allocations to the United Kingdom for 1987. In a note to editors an allocation of £254 million from the fund for MSC training schemes was highlighted.