§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Paymaster General what are the conditions for the expenditure of European Community social fund moneys through Manpower Services Commission programmes; and whether there is a guideline from the Directorate General V of the EEC Commission that such funding should be for "bottom up" or local initiatives rather than "top down" initiatives from Government.
§ Mr. LeeManpower Services Commission employment and training programmes which fall within the rules and guidelines of the European social fund are eligible for support from the fund on the same basis as are other applications to it. There is no guideline in the social fund regulations which stipulates that grants for such programmes should be for local initiatives.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Paymaster General on what basis the decision was taken to introduce the criteria of positive progression into Manpower Services Commission-funded programmes; and whether the introduction of such criteria was agreed by the Commission of the European Communities for Manpower Services Commission projects funded through the Community's social fund.
§ Mr. LeeUnfortunately the criteria to which the hon. Member is referring are not readily identifiable from the terms of his question. If he would like to write to me setting out his concerns, I shall of course seek to provide a full reply.