HC Deb 21 March 1985 vol 75 cc603-4W
Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why Scotland is now being excluded from the European anti-poverty programme.

Mr. Ancram

Given the limited size of the second European Commission anti-poverty programme, the likely share of EC resources available for projects in Scotland would have been extremely small. In these circumstances, because of the need to balance the United Kingdom's contribution to EC expenditure with other public expenditure within planned totals, and because no additional public expenditure resources could be made available to meet the required local contribution, there would have been little or no likelihood of projects being successful except at the expense of other priorities or programmes. Therefore, and after very careful consideration, my right hon. Friend and I concluded that the balance of advantage on this occasion lay in non-participation and in concentrating our available public expenditure resources upon existing identified priorities.

Many projects that might have been considered under the anti-poverty programme are of course likely to qualify for existing forms of support. In particular suitable projects can benefit from the 75 per cent. funding available through the urban programme for voluntary sector and local authority projects of direct benefit to deprived urban areas.

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money Scotland has received from the earlier EC anti-poverty programme; and if he will list the projects which benefited.

Mr. Ancram

The total amount paid from the first EC anti-poverty programme in respect of projects in Scotland was £654,174.

The projects supported were as follows:

  1. 1. Craigmillar Festival Society, Edinburgh.
  2. 2. Social and Community Development Project, Edinburgh.
  3. 3. Govan Area Resource Centre, Glasgow.

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the procedure for making bids from Scotland to the EC under its anti-poverty programme.

Mr. Ancram

Applications for financial assistance under the second EC programme to combat poverty have to be forwarded to the European Commission with the approval of member state Governments. As, however, the hon. Member is aware, it has been decided that the balance of advantage on this occasion does not favour Scotland's participation in the programme.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on his refusal to accept aid from the European anti-poverty programme;

(2) why he considers the second European Community programme to combat poverty not good value for money for Scotland, as he has written in a letter to the chief executive of Strathclyde;

(3) if he will list his reasons for writing to the chief executive of Strathclyde region rejecting the second European Community programme to combat poverty for Scotland and saying that the money directly from the EC would not be additional money.

Mr. Ancram

I refer the hon. Member to the replies I have given today to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang).

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will reconsider his decision to exclude Scotland from the second European Community programme to combat poverty.

Mr. Ancram

I see no reason to do so.