§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the budget for 1982 for expenditure on handicapped people within the European social fund; what part of this expenditure he expects to be available for the developmnent of a network referred to in paragraph II of the resolution of the Council of Ministers on the social integration of handicapped people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonThe European social fund's 1982 budget for expenditure on the needs of handicapped people is 116 million European currency units for commitment appropriations—that is, financial commitments—which can be entered into during 1982. The present value of one ECU is approximately 57p.
Our understanding is that none of this expenditure will be available for the development of the network of development actions referred to in the resolution of the Council of Ministers on the social integration of handicapped people. The resolution of the Council proposes that such actions should not begin until 1983, and it seems unlikely that the proposed activities would be eligible for assistance under the existing rules and regulations of the fund. The proposed network will be among the matters considered during the review of the fund which is due to be completed by the end of this year.