§ LORD O'HAGANasked Her Majesty's Government to specify how and how much the United Kingdom will benefit from the European Economic Community Social Fund.
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD DRUMALBYN)Her Majesty's Government has made an initial application for assistance from the European Social Fund for approximately £31 million. This amount represents half the estimated cost for 1973 of Government supported training and resettlement schemes for people in assisted areas and of the United Kingdom disablement resettlement services.
It will not be clear how much of this application will be approved until the European Commission has decided to what extent it is consistent with its own interpretation of the Community legislation governing the Fund.
The Government are considering what further claim on the Fund the United Kingdom might make to take advantage of the recently introduced special arrangements for agricultural and textile workers.