§ Mr. Russell Johnstonasked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement about the Government's objectives in the review of the European Community's regional and social funds with a view to achieving the satisfactory outcome referred to in the Gracious Speech.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government's key objectives are that these funds should give greater priority to the current regional and social problems in the Community which particularly affect the United Kingdom. The regional fund should concentrate its resources more on the areas of greatest need while remaining flexible in its operational rules and administration; and the social fund could be made more effective in tackling the major employment problems facing the Community, specifically Youth unemployment and regions of persistently high unemployment.