§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what amount of European social fund money is currently being held in reserve by the European Commission; and what reasons have been given for a reserve being put on this funding. [13079]
§ Mr. ForthSome 3,377 million ecu are available for spending in Great Britain under objectives 3 and 4 of the structural funds between 1994 and 1999. The objective 3 plan for 1994 to 1996 period, which was agreed with the European Commission, provided for 1,501 million of that money to be spent in the UK. The remaining 1,876 million ecu are available for spending in Great Britain under objectives 3 and 4 of the structural funds between 1997 and 1999. The plans for spending that money will be negotiated this year.