§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will announce details of his Department's arrangements for inviting applications for funds from the European Economic Community anti-poverty programme and of the timetable for decision making on applications;
346W(2) if he will list the steps he is taking to encourage the voluntary sector to participate in the European Economic Community anti-poverty programme;
(3) if he will list the consultations his Department has initiated to ensure that the United Kingdom participates to the maximum extent in the European Economic Community anti-poverty programme.
§ Mr. John PattenOfficials of this Department and of other relevant Departments in the United Kingdom, representatives of voluntary organisations and individual experts have played a full part in the numerous consultations arranged by the European Commission on its proposals for a second European community programme to combat poverty. The Council of Ministers agreed on 19 December 1984 that a second programme would take place in the four years 1985–88 with a maximum EC expenditure of 25 million ecu (approximately £15 million). There have been meetings with individuals and organisations in this country from central and local government, institutions and relevant voluntary organisations to discuss arrangements for the programme and for United Kingdom participation. The Department will shortly announce arrangements and the timetable for the submission of applications for the limited funds available from those voluntary and other organisations who are most likely to be interested in undertaking action research projects under the programme and whose activities relate most closely to the themes put forward by the Commission.