Disabled People (Hansard, 21 January 1987)

§ Mr. Carter-Jones
asked the Paymaster General if, pursuant to his answer of 19 November 1986, Official Report, column 213, schemes providing vocational training for disabled people, combined with a substantial degree of adaptation of workplaces, are now eligible for support from the European social fund if they are in priority areas of the country.

§ Mr. Lee
The European Commission's guidelines for applications to the European social fund in 1987 removed the specific priority allocated to vocational training for disabled people combined with a substantial degree of adaption of workplaces. However, priority was retained for operations in priority areas for disabled people capable of working in the open labour market. As a result any schemes in priority areas which would have been eligible under the 1986 guidelines should still qualify under the 1987 guidelines. However, the final interpretation of the guidelines rests with the European Commission.

§ Mr. Carter-Jones
asked the Paymaster General if support from the European social fund is available for vocational training of disabled people only if schemes are in priority areas.

§ Mr. Lee
The specific social fund guideline which accords priority to operations for disabled people capable of working in the open labour market is restricted to priority regions. However, the final interpretation of this guideline rests with the European Commission which has in the past been prepared to support under it some operations for disabled people taking place outside the priority regions so long as those taking part are residents of priority regions. In addition, disabled people may also be eligible to benefit from other employment and training programmes supported by the social fund under other of the fund's guidelines not specifically directed towards helping the disabled.

§ Mr. Carter-Jones
asked the Paymaster General if he has any intention to seek to amend the restrictions on eligibility of projects for disabled people under European social fund guidelines.

§ Mr. Lee
Yes. The next opportunity will be at a meeting of the European Social Fund Advisory Committee, due to take place next month at which representatives of my Department will put forward the case for extending the availability of support for disabled people under the guidelines of the European social fund. Final decisions on the guidelines rest with the European Commission.