§ 18. Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to make the European social fund guidelines for 1982 to 1984 more responsive to the needs of those depressed areas of England, Wales and Scotland which do not currently count as areas of absolute priority under the fund rules.
§ Mr. WaddingtonNorthern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom which is designated by the regulations of the European social fund as a region of absolute priority in the Community. So far as the rest of the United Kingdom is concerned, the guidelines for the management of the fund already give priority to schemes in Scotland, Wales and the areas of greatest need in England. We will continue to press for recognition within the social fund of the problems of those areas within the United Kingdom where the need is greatest.
19. Mr. lain Millsasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications from private voluntary bodies in the United Kingdom for support from the European social fund have been successful since 1973.
§ Mr. WaddingtonTwenty-six applications for assistance from the European social fund from voluntary organisations have secured allocations since 1973.