asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his policy towards the submission of applications for grants from the social fund of the EEC.

In general, applications are made in respect of one half of expenditure by public authorities—mainly the central Government—on eligible activities such as training.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to encourage requests from United Kingdom organisations to the social fund of the EEC.

The fund's regulations require that applications must involve an element of support from public funds. Within this limitation, my Department is continually searching for schemes operated or grant-aided by public authorities which might qualify for assistance from the fund.