§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what provision will be made for the continued participation of the voluntary sector under the European social fund objective 3 programme for the period 1997 to 1999. [10029]
§ Mr. ForthThe voluntary sector will continue to be a partner in the European social fund objective 3 programme for the period 1997 to 1999 being able to bid for funds and having an involvement in the selection of projects.
§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to ensure that the voluntary sector organisations in receipt of grant aid under the European social fund objective 3 programme do not face a shortfall in funding in respect of 1994 payments as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate between sterling and the ecu. [20031]
§ Mr. ForthThe 1994 final payment has been received from the European Commission in ecu but when converted into sterling it is insufficient to pay all final claims. Officials in the Department's European social fund unit are working with the Commission to try to make up the shortfall. Project providers are being asked to566W supply information about the pattern of expenditure during 1994, which should help the European social fund unit to make a more favourable calculation of the sums due to Great Britain. The reaction of Commission officials to our approaches to date has been constructive.
§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to change the allocation of resources and method of distribution under the European social fund objective 3 programme. [20028]
§ Mr. ForthOfficials have been asked to report by April on the possibility of managing the selection of European social fund objective 3 projects on a regional basis. Any changes will be agreed with the Commission as part of the 1997–99 programme and will involve European social fund partners.
§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the European Commission in relation to delays in payments to voluntary sector organisations under the European social fund. [20030]
§ Mr. ForthI have had no recent discussions with representatives of the European Commission about delays in payment of European social fund money to voluntary sector organisations. Officials in the Department's European social fund unit do, however, meet their counterparts in the European Commission on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues including delays in payment.