HC Deb 10 April 1984 vol 58 c199W
Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals have been considered at meetings of the Council of Ministers for a renewal of the antipoverty programme; what decisions have been reached and what was the attitude of the United Kingdom representatives.

Dr. Boyson

No proposals have yet been submitted to the Council of Ministers, but in reply to a question in the European Parliament from a United Kingdom member in February this year, the Commission indicated that, in addition to a number of major statistical studies and action to promote the establishment of a clearing house on poverty, it intends to sponsor a series of seminars on possible themes for a new programme including deprived urban and certain rural areas, the long-term unemployed, certain groups of jobless young people, single parent families, the very elderly, second generation immigrants, returning migrants and refugees.

United Kingdom experts have already taken part in Commission consultations and will continue to do so in relation to the matter set out in the Commission's reply.