§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many and which regions have been designated as youth unemployment priority areas.
§ Mr. Peter Morrison[pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1984, c. 240]: Under the current guidelines of the revised European Social Fund which came into operation on 1 January, there are no longer specific youth unemployment 488W priority areas. However, 75 per cent. of the fund is reserved for schemes for people under 25 years of age. For a wide range of such schemes (together with other activites supported by the fund) the European Commission has designated the following areas in the United Kingdom as having priority in 1984: Scotland, Wales, the northern and north—west regions, Yorkshire and Humberside and west midlands, together with the assisted areas in south—west and east midlands regions. In addition, Northern Ireland continues to rank as a region of special priority under the new fund rules.