§ Sir Anthony Meyerasked the Secretary of State for Employment on which issues he expects progress to be made during the British Presidency in the Social Council.
§ Mr. AlisonThe European Community's Council of Ministers—Labour and Social Affairs—will meet in82W Brussels on 8 December. I hope we shall be able to make progress on a draft directive concerning the protection of workers from metallic lead, to consider the Commission's proposals on the social integration of disabled people and to agree amendments to Social Security regulations concerning migrant workers. There will also be a discussion of the forthcoming review of the European social fund and of European social policy. In addition, I hope that the Council will note progress on a draft directive concerning the protection of workers from asbestos and will accept the annual report on the social fund.
Under the United Kingdom Presidency the Community has also started to discuss the social effects of technological change and the nature of the Community's response. Detailed proposals are not yet ready for Council.
§ Sir Anthony Meyerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place in the Library a copy of the speech made on behalf of the Presidency to the Social Affairs and Employment Committee of the European Parliament.
§ Mr. AlisonYes. I made the speech to the Committee on 9 November, describing the main items of work with which the United Kingdom Presidency was currently concerned in the social affairs field. A copy will be deposited in the Library shortly.
§ Sir Anthony Meyerasked the Secretary of State for Employment, further to his answer of 13 November to the hon. Member for West Flint, if he will list in the Official Report the contribution made in each year since 1973 by the European social fund to financing (a) the youth opportunities programme, (b) the training opportunities scheme, (c) the training for skills scheme, (d) work experience projects and (e) schemes for training in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. AlisonThe information available is given in the tables below. The youth opportunities programme (YOP) was introduced on 1 April 1978, and the European social fund (ESF) allocation for that year relates to the period May to December only. The figure for the ESF allocation to the training opportunities scheme (TOPS) for 1973 is not indentifiable seperately. The training for skills programme (TSPA) was introduced in 1979. Allocations to work-experience projects cannot be separately indentified, although the bulk of allocations in this area are in respect of YOP.
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Allocations from the European Social Fund (in £ million) Calendar Year YOP TOPS TSPA 1973 — — — 1974 — 11 — 1975 — 20 — 1976 — 21 — 1977 — 41 — 1978 *13 27 — 1979 39 16 2 1980 47 20 4 1981 59 12 4 * in respect of the period May to December only
Allocations to Northern Ireland from the European Social Fund (in £ million) Calendar Year Allocation 1973 — 1974 3 1975 0.2 1976 6 1977 1 1978 14 1979 20 1980 21 1981 30