§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many firms in the private sector in Northern Ireland have obtained assistance from the EEC regional funds and social funds; and for what purposes.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe Regional Development Fund has made no payments to member States yet since the detailed arrangements under which applications will be made are still to be settled. The Commission has approved applications for assistance from the Social Fund on behalf of 14 firms in the private sector in Northern Ireland involving a total allocation of about £800,000. This relates to the cost of training unemployed and under-employed persons, including a number from the agriculture and textile sectors. No sums have yet been received because payment is claimed after the training has been carried out.