§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether he is satisfied with the take-up of subsidies to be claimed from the European Community social fund by local authorities; what other proposals he has for further publicising the availability of these funds; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what measures he has taken to inform local authorities in areas of high unemployment of potential subsidies to be claimed from the European Community social fund, particularly those to encourage the hiring of young workers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsI refer the hon. Member to the reply which my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Employment gave to the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Penhaligon) on 6 February.—[Vol. 998, c.240–41.] In addition my Department issued circular letters to local authorities in Wales in September 1979 and in August 1980—the latter wholly about the social fund—which made specific reference to the scope for fund aid to young persons' training and employment schemes run by local authorities. Copies of the revised handbook on the fund will be issued to all Welsh local authorities.