§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the full amount of assistance received from the Commission of the European Community for the 1990 allocation support framework for operational programmes 3 and 4.
§ Mr. ForthThe full amount of assistance approved to date by the European Commission for operational programmes under objectives 3 and 4 in 1990 is £229,229,551. Under the fund's rules, the Commission actually releases the money in the three stages.
The first advance of £114.6 million was received last October. My Department applied for the second advance at the earliest opportunity allowed by the fund, and payment from the Commission is expected by the end of January. My Department will similarly submit the final claim as quickly as possible.