asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the EEC budget for its Social Fund in 1974 ; how this amount compares with expenditure on the Social Fund in 1973 ; and what has been the United Kingdom share of payments out of the fund.

The new Social Fund budget for 1974 is about £112 million. This compares with expected expenditure of some £78 million in respect of 1973, of which the United Kingdom is likely to receive up to £24 million including about £4 million for Northern Ireland.