European Coal and Steel Community

HC Deb 01 December 1997 vol 302 cc15-6W

Sir Richard Body

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the provisions in the annual budget of the European Coal and Steel Community for(a) workers' housing, special reserve, and (b) staff loans, pension fund, apply to. [17264]

Mr. Battle

I have been asked to reply.

The special reserve relating to workers' housing is used to grant loans from ECSC funds to finance subsidised housing for workers in the coal and steel industries.

The proportion assigned to the pension fund originally represented the ECSC's total pension obligations prior to 5 March 1968. Since that date, the Member States have assumed responsibility, via the general budget for the payment of staff pensions, and this fund has subsequently been available for a number of purposes, including the financing of housing loans for officials of the European Communities.