HC Deb 05 December 1990 vol 182 cc152-3W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the reason for the delay in announcing ESF funding allocation.

Mr. Forth

There have been a number of difficulties with the implementation of the new requirements under the reformed ESF this year. A major cause of the delays was the late approval by the Commission of the operational programmes for 1990 onwards in August this year. It was only then that work on the individual applications for ESF support could start. Some 2,500 applications have been submitted, of which over 1,500 were received by my Department at the end of September. The vast majority had to be returned for revision because of errors. My Department is doing everything possible to expedite the process and to authorise payments to applicants.

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average length of time schemes have been operating without funding whilst awaiting the outcome of the ESF bids.

Mr. Forth

This information is not available.

It is only once an application for ESF assistance has been approved, and a claim for a first advance payment made, that my Department is notified of the scheme's actual start date. Moreover, the European social fund provides only up to 50 per cent. of the funding of schemes.

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to announce details of ESF funding arrangements.

Mr. Forth

My Department indicated in May this year the amounts of money likely to be available to the main groups of organisations involved in the European social fund in 1990. The European Commission gave its approval for our operational programmes only in August this year. Since then some 2,500 applications have been submitted, of which 1,500 were received by my Department at the end of September. The vast majority had to be returned for revision because of errors. My Department is doing everything possible to expedite the process. Some payments have already been made and it is hoped to complete the process by the end of January.