Thank you for your Explanatory Memorandum 11985/07 regarding the Commission's proposals to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund. This was considered by Sub-Committee A on 16 October 2007. The Committee decided to hold this issue under scrutiny.

  The Committee noted that there appears to be a disparity between the amounts being proposed for each application when measured by the amount of assistance requested per employee. Whilst the Committee accepts the Government's position on the eligibility of these two applications it would welcome further information on how the specific amounts to be applied to each application were arrived at. The Committee are also interested to know whether any UK companies have suffered from the same market forces in the car industry.

  The Committee would also be interested to know whether there are any other applications pending for this Fund from the UK or any other countries.

17 October 2007