asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have taken place with the European Commission about European social fund contributions towards the cost of section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966; what claims have been made since 1975 against the European social fund; and what receipts have been obtained.

The regular discussions which take place between officials of the EEC Commission responsible for the operation of the European social fund and officials of the Department of Employment who co-ordinate the Government's interests in this field, touch from time to time, on the contributions from the fund towards expenditure eligible for grant under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966.Since 1975, application has been made to the European social fund for the following assistance towards all the expenditure eligible for grant aid under section 11 which falls within the scope of the fund:

1975	£8·36 million
1976	£8·43 million
1977	£9·50 million
1978	£10·64 million
1979	£11·13 million
1980	£14·47 million

The fund has been able to approve claims for assistance only in respect of certain elements in this expenditure which are related to the fund's changing priorities. The amounts received since 1975 to date are shown below:

1975	£3·31 million
1976	£0·32 million
1977	£2·15 million*
1978	£0·28 million*
* Full payment of assistance approved by ESF still awaited.