§ Lord SANDFORDasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the British Youth Opportunities Programme attracts aid from the European Social Fund and, if so, at what rate; if not, why not.
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYSuccessful applications for assistance from the European Social Fund have been submitted in respect of many of the schemes in operation in 1976 and 1977 which will continue under the Youth Opportunities Programme; namely, the Training Services Agency's short courses for young people, Community Industry, the incentive training grants scheme and work experience on employer's premises. One part of the programme—the training workshop—has not yet been fully developed. Nevertheless one experimental training workshop has attracted assistance from the Fund for 1977 as a pilot scheme.
No allocations have yet been made by the Commission for operations to be undertaken for the first time in 1978. Applications will be submitted in respect of such newer parts of the Youth Opportunities Programme as appear to be eligible for Fund assistance, when they take firmer shape. The Commission will make allocations on the basis of the recommendations of the Social Fund Advisory Committee, which considers applications throughout the year. Because the Fund's budget is normally heavily oversubscribed, a system of priorities has to be devised to allocate its resources to best effect. How full an allocation each part of the Programme earns will depend on the degree of priority it is given.