WRITTEN QUESTION E-3161/97 by Allan Macartney (ARE) to the Commission (13 October 1997)

Subject: European structural funding: projects involving people with learning difficulties

The current outcome measure for obtaining funding is that of placement in employment, and for people with learning disability this is almost always sheltered or supported employment on a temporary basis, with the individual continuing to be dependent on benefits. Unfortunately, it would appear that, in practical terms, the only acceptable outcome measure for obtaining funding in future will be that of going into open paid employment with the individual coming off benefits or gaining a recognised qualification. This is virtually impossible to achieve for anyone with a degree of learning disability and discriminates against such individuals, depriving them of the chance of training.

Are there any measures in place to ensure equal treatment and/or a clause which allows for lower outcome measures where those with learning disabilities or the disabled are involved?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (27 November 1997)

The main source of structural funds to assist unemployed people into work is the European social fund (ESF). The ESF supports human resource development. Objective 3 in particular supports initiatives combating long term unemployment.

The United Kingdom objective 3 plan identifies groups most at risk of long term unemployment, and targets support towards initiatives meeting their needs. People with learning difficulties constitute one of these target groups. At the moment just under half of the United Kingdom objective 3 allocation is awarded through a regionally focused competitive system. These projects do not include any outcome-related elements. The proportion of the fund allocated to the regions in this way will rise to 52% in 1998 and 64% in 1999. The remainder of the objective 3 funds are used to support United Kingdom government programmes. Some of these use an output-related funding methodology, such as training for work. When output-related funding is applied it is combined with safeguards to prevent the exclusion of the most vulnerable groups in the labour market.

Payments for successful outcomes are combined with incentives for providers to work with the most disadvantaged groups in the labour market. This takes the form of additional weighted payments for successful outcomes involving key target groups. The system has been designed to ensure that support is properly targeted as well as effective.

The Employment-Horizon Community initiative funds innovative projects designed to explore new ways of helping people with disabilities to participate fully in the labour market. Priority is given to experimental projects which develop new systems of training, counselling and employment, including adaptation of workplaces, and to projects providing training, guidance, work placement and support.

Given the experimental nature of activities funding through the Employment Community initiative, the outcome measures are not set in advance, though the overall objective is to contribute to the development of human resources, with a view to promoting social solidarity through the stimulation of employment-intensive growth.

In addition, the Leonardo da Vinci programme (1995-1999) also contributes to this objective. Among the priorities, 'Combating exclusion', pays particular attention to the disadvantaged and as such, to the disabled in the labour market. The projects selected under this priority aim to promote access to training and improve employability. In this way the programme favours projects involving disabled people who are treated as a particular target group. To date about 60 projects for disabled people have been or are being funded by the programme.