§ Mr. Fatchettasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total allocation from the European social fund to the United Kingdom in the current financial year; and how much the 20 per cent. reduction is in cash terms, on voluntary organisations.
§ Mr. CopeThe United Kingdom has been allocated £435 million from the European social fund in respect of operations beginning in 1987.
The total amount of the linear reduction of 20 per cent. on voluntary sector applications for projects for over 25-year-olds, is some £1.1 million.
The linear reduction on similar applications from other organisations is 50 per cent.
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§ Mr. Fatchettasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the linear reductions in the European social fund and the implications for voluntary sector schemes.
§ Mr. CopeThe European Commission has, this year, had to impose a sizeable linear reduction on applications to that part of the European social fund that is allocated to adult projects. The overall reduction that the Commission has imposed on the adult budget for adult projects is just under 50 per cent. The Government decided this year to impose a reduction of 20 per cent. on applications from the voluntary sector. Other organisations are bearing a reduction of 50 per cent.
The Commission also imposed a linear reduction of 0.5 per cent. on the budget for applications in respect of young people under 25, and this is being borne by all organisations.