HC Deb 24 May 1999 vol 332 cc22-3W
Mr. Coleman

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give further details about the proposed Partnership Fund. [85474]

Mr. Byers

The Government intend to make available up to £5 million over the next four years through the Partnership Fund. The fund will help develop partnerships at work by supporting partnership projects in the workplace and encouraging the spread of information about best practice.

Statutory authority for funding in this area is being sought through Clause 26 of the Employment Relations Bill. Support will be available for up to 50 per cent. of total eligible costs of individual projects, up to a limit of £50,000 support per project. It will be a requirement of support that projects should have matching funding of at least 50 per cent. from non-public sector sources.

The Fund will be launched and a first call for proposals announced once the Employment Relations Bill has received Royal Assent.