HC Deb 17 January 1984 vol 52 cc159-60W
Mr. Jackson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total amount of allocations made to the United Kingdom from the European social fund in 1983; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

The Commission of the European Communities recently announced the fifth and final set of allocations from the European social fund for 1983. The total allocation to the United Kingdom for the year was some £320.8 million, compared with £257.6 million in 1982. Our share of the fund in the last two years has been just under 30 per cent., compared with an average of 24 per cent, over the previous years since we joined the Community. In 1983 we overtook Italy as the country receiving the largest share of the fund.

Of the 1983 allocations to the United Kingdom, some £240 million is for training and employment schemes for young people under 25 years old—compared with £151 million in 1982—£52 million for schemes for adults in the assisted areas, £17 million for schemes to train handicapped people for open employment, and over £2.3 million for schemes for women's training — nearly 3 times the 1982 figure of £800,000.

Schemes run by Government Departments, the Manpower Services Commission, the Northern Ireland Department of Economic Development, nationalised industries, local authorities, private firms and voluntary organisations have all received allocations. Over 70 per cent, of the total allocation was given to schemes run by the Manpower Services Commission, notably the youth training scheme and youth opportunities programme.

These allocations represent another significant benefit to the United Kingdom of membership of the European Community. Since our accession more than £1,280 million has been allocated in grants from the social fund to this country. This gives us a substantial contribution to training and employment schemes. The considerable assistance given to schemes to help young people is especially welcome.