§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for Employment what financial assistance has been obtained, or applied for, by industry in the North-West of England for retraining purposes from EEC sources.
§ Mr. John FraserThe main source of EEC assistance for retraining and that for which my Department has responsibility is the European Social Fund. No financial assistance from the fund has been obtained or applied for by industry in the North-West of England. £40,000 has been allocated from European Coal and Steel Community funds for retraining of redundant steelworkers in Manchester.
§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for Employment what financial assistance is available to industry in the North-West of England under all headings for retraining purposes from EEC sources.
§ Mr. John FraserThe main EEC instrument for assistance for retraining whether by industry or other organisations, in the North West or other regions, is the European Social Fund. The effect of the fund's regulations is to concentrate such assistance on development areas. Moreover, the fund will assist schemes run by private industry only where a public authority is making a contribution to the expenditure. Assistance is also available from European Coal and Steel Community Funds to help industry and Government with the training for specific employment of redundant steel workers who are eligible under Article 56(2)b of the Treaty of Paris.