European Social Fund (Cornwall)

HC Deb 14 April 1989 vol 150 cc730-1W

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what technical queries he received from the European Commission regarding the European social fund applications for 1989 by Cornwall county council;. what steps were taken to answer those technical queries; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope

My Department was advised by the European Commission that Cornwall county council's 1989 European social fund applications, in common with over 150 other UK applications, were being rejected because the Commission considered that the expenditure costs quoted were too high and not sufficiently justified for the type of training being given.

Officials from my Department made representations to the Commission on behalf of all the applicants so affected, but have not so far been successful in changing the Commission's decision.

Because of the difficulties that the rejection to these applications is causing Cornwall county council, my Department has written again to the European Commission with a request that the social fund applications be reviewed.