1. European Funding through the Structural Funds is available to provide additional support to economic development and social measures throughout Scotland, although the exact type of intervention varies depending upon the area. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) provides support for the promotion of economic and social cohesion, particularly relating to creation and safeguarding of sustainable jobs, investment in infrastructure and support to local development and employment initiatives and activities of small and medium size enterprises. This is available in the former Objective 1 area in the Highlands & Islands; and in the new Objective 2 areas in lowland Scotland, as well as in the transition areas which used to be covered by Objective 2 and Objective 5b (rural Scotland). The European Social Fund is available throughout Lowland Scotland and via Objective 3, aims to support measures to tackle unemployment, to develop human resources and social integration into the labour market in order to promote a high level of employment, as well as equality between men and women, sustainable development and economic and social cohesion.
2. Both programmes promote the tackling of social exclusion, although in different ways: the European Regional Development Fund provides support for urban areas in difficulty as well as community economic development activities in both urban and rural areas; the European Social Fund aims to tackle the problem of people in long term unemployment, the facilitation of the re-integration of the long term unemployed into the labour market, the occupational integration of young people and persons returning to the labour market after a period of absence, equal opportunities and access in the labour market, with particular emphasis on those exposed to social exclusion, and the promotion of entrepreneurship and of a skilled, trained and adaptable workforce. Both funds place a particular emphasis on promoting equal opportunities and sustainable development. It is important to stress that both funds are designed to operate in addition to national and local measures: they cannot substitute for national or local initiatives, but are designed to strengthen them where there are particular needs.
3. The European Union approved in Summer 1999 the framework for new programmes for the period 2000-2006. Plans are now being prepared for implementation of these programmes in 5 areas of Scotland: Highlands & Islands: West of Scotland (the former Strathclyde region); the East of Scotland (from the Moray and Aberdeenshire coasts to the Lothians); South of Scotland (the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway); and an Objective 3 programme for the European Social Fund covering all of lowland Scotland. For each of these programmes plans are being submitted in 1999/2000 to the Commission and will be the subject of negotiation before the new programmes can get underway. The Scottish Executive has stressed the importance of making sure that the new plans complement and add value to the policy priorities of the Scottish Executive as set out in the Programme for Government, including the promotion of social justice.
4. Summary of Previous Interventions. Under previous programmes a substantial amount of work has been done to develop community economic development in deprived areas, particularly in West and East Scotland. European Social Fund intervention has always had a particular emphasis on assisting the unemployed back to work. Examples of successful previous activities are:
Details of each project are set out in the relevant annex.
5. Likely Programmes for 2000 onwards. At this stage the exact content of the new programmes is still not yet decided. Proposals from the Partnerships in the various parts of Scotland and the Scottish Executive have to be negotiated with the Commission before the final shape of the programmes is agreed. But at this stage it looks as if the following priorities relevant to social justice will be covered:
5.1 Highlands & Islands Programme Partnership programmes offer an integrated approach to meet the needs of people facing ‘multiple barriers’. The ‘Pathways to Progress’ approach which included remedial action where required in addition to training and job search support has been found particularly successful. There will be a strong emphasis on covering gaps in existing systems and post training support to enable people to progress into employment.
Objective 2 Programmes
5.2 South of Scotland aims to concentrate on capacity building to strengthen the voluntary sector infrastructure, Community Regeneration Initiatives, and Economic Inclusion and Life Long Learning action which is aimed at removing specific barriers to economic participation; e.g. childcare and transport guidance.
5.3 West of Scotland aims to prioritise an increase in the economic and social cohesion of the regions. Measures could include community area regeneration. Addressing barriers to economic and social inclusion, with a focus on identifying target groups and training and related activities in support of individuals in communities’ excluded from the labour market.
5.4 East of Scotland will prioritise Community Economic development. Measures may include projects to support social entrepeneurship, social and economic infrastructure, access to local development finance, and to building individual and organisational capacity.
Objective 3 Programme
5.5 The Objective 3 Programme which aims to provide support to individuals most at risk of becoming excluded from economic and social activity through supporting activities which will raise the employability of individuals who have been unemployed for less than two years and through specifically targeting support upon individuals at greatest risk of becoming long term unemployed. Objective 3 support also provides training and learning assistance to individuals currently in employment in order to enhance skill levels within the Scottish workforce and furthermore, through the competitiveness of the Scottish economy. Social exclusion is tackled directly through the provision of appropriate support (such as, guidance, counselling and training) tailored to meet the requirements of socially excluded groups (for instance, people with disabilities, the homeless, and ethnic minorities within Scotland). Activities which will enhance equality of access and opportunity to employment for social groups such as, women, returnees to the labour market and lone parents are also supported as a means via which to facilitate social inclusion.
6. New Initiatives plan to tackle Social Exclusion. In each programme social justice issues will figure largely. The Highlands and Islands Partnership Programme plans to further develop those themes that proved successful in the previous period. For instance Integration for Opportunity, which focus on reintegration of individuals with personal as well as physical disabilities. Also, Training Advice and Guidance Highland (TAG), providing vocational training guidance and support. In Objective 2 social exclusion measures will be tackled in both full eligibility areas and transition areas. The type of measures that could be supported includes those that will engage the local community and enable them to actively participate in the design, management and delivery of local development plans. This may also importantly include direct support in researching and preparing local plans, assistance with establishing appropriate local management structures and revenue support for local development workers. Projects may be aimed at training and related activity and at addressing barriers to inclusion. The rural dimension to exclusion is likely to be given particular attention by plan teams. A particular emphasis will be placed on ensuring that projects selected match local strategic needs in the social justice field as well as the criteria on the new plan. The Objective 3 Programme develops a four pronged approach to tackling social exclusion, which recognises the multidimensional nature of the problem. Assistance to excluded groups will be provided in a variety of forms including guidance and counselling, vocational training, work experience, job search support and wage subsidy schemes. Support will be targeted upon excluded groups which are concentrated in urban areas and rural areas (such as workless households, the long term unemployed, the homeless and lone parents) whilst people who are not concentrated within particular localities (such as people with disabilities and ex-offenders) will also receive assistance. The Objective 3 Programme will also provide support to enhance the capacity of organisations dealing with socially excluded target groups.
7. Measurable Indicators of Performance/Progress. Core indicators have already been developed in consultation with national and local partners for both ERDF and ESF, which have relevance in certain areas to social inclusion matters. The key indicators will cover social inclusion in its widest sense embracing sustainable development and equal opportunities as well as more basic elements such as child care provision and the provision of wage subsidy places.
The main focus will continue to be the creation of new jobs since increasing access to employment through all eligible means is still a prime function of Structural Funds. However, so that social inclusion can be seen to be addressed specifically throughout the individual Programmes, certain additional areas of intervention will also be monitored. These include showing how many organisations, assisted through Structural Funds, will introduce equal opportunity and family friendly policies, as well as those organisations which will receive assistance to offer child care facilities. The implementation effort in Community Economic Development areas will be monitored separately from overall development, as will the increase in number and progress of Community Business Organisations.
8. Role of European Partnerships. In line with the provision of the EU Regulation, partnerships have been established in the programme areas in order to deliver European programmes. These partnerships bring together the main funding partners as well as other relevant bodies — i.e. local authorities, enterprise networks, voluntary sector, further and higher education etc. The Partnerships work in developing and implementing the programme is supported by Programme Management Executives, which work in tandem with the Scottish Executive Development Department (the managing authority for Structural Funds in Scotland). Given the representation of various public bodies on the partnerships it is important that their activities be carefully co-ordinated with those of the social inclusion partnerships at area and thematic level on the ground. Since there is no direct coherence between the various types of European Funding and the boundaries of the social inclusion partnerships, such funding may be available in other areas as long as need can be established consistent with the needs of local strategies and the strategies of the new programmes as a whole.
9. Co-operation and consistency. Ability to carry out joint working with public bodies is part of social inclusion strategies. It will be important to carry out regular dialogue between Scottish Executive, the Programme Partnerships and the Social Inclusion Partnerships in order to ensure consistency of approach.
10. Annexes for each programme
Annex A: Highlands & Islands Partnership Programme
Annex B: South of Scotland European Partnership
Annex C: Strathclyde European Partnership
Annex D: East of Scotland European Partnership
Annex E: Scottish ESF Objective 3 Partnership
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
MARCH 2000
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