To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff in his Department are involved in processing the payment of (a) European Regional Development Fund grants and (b) Social Fund grants. [79934]
| inspector | Sergeant | Constable | Total | Ethnic officers as percentage of total strength | |
| Central | — | — | 2 | 2 | 0.28 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| Fife | — | — | 2 | 2 | 0.24 |
| Grampian | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 0.16 |
| Lothian and Borders | — | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0.23 |
| Northern | — | — | 1 | 1 | 0.15 |
| Strathclyde | — | 1 | 34 | 35 | 0.49 |
| Tayside | — | — | 3 | 3 | 0.26 |
| Total | 1 | 2 | 48 | 51 | 0.34 |
Five and one half full time equivalent members of staff process the final payment of European Development Fund grants and 2 full time members of staff European Social Fund grants. In addition, 3 members of staff provide management and support services to the final payments process.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department pays out grants under EU funds before receiving the money from the EU. [79935]
Yes. Since February 1999, it has been Fund and European Regional Development Fund grants Government policy to make payment of European Social on receipt of valid claims from project sponsors. It is expected that this will lead to improvements in the overall payments process, with grant funds being paid earlier to project sponsors.From 1 July 1999 the administration of European Structural Funds will be the responsibility of the Scottish Administration.