§ Mr. McMahonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the European Community's anti-poverty programme has benefited the United Kingdom; and what amounts have been granted to projects (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in Scotland over the period May 1979 to 1982.
§ Mr. NewtonThe EC's anti-poverty programme has benefited the United Kingdom by extending knowledge of new locally based approaches to tackling social problems and by direct improvements in the welfare of those involved in a number of projects to test these approaches.
The United Kingdom received grants totalling £1,191,647 from the EC between 1975 and 1982 towards the total United Kingdom costs of these projects, of which £867,234 were paid between May 1979 and 1982. Within these totals grants received for projects in Scotland amounted to £489,779 over the whole period, £352,899 being paid between May 1979 and 1982.
The EC grants together with the United Kingdom contributions to all projects totalled about £3,440,000 between 1975 and 1982, of which about £1,100,000 were paid to projects in Scotland. Information is not available about the payments which were made to projects in Scotland between May 1979 and 1982.