Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Shared Prosperity Fund

Monday 22 February 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government will work with devolved Administrations and local communities to ensure the UK shared prosperity fund supports citizens across the country.
  • Government published heads of terms document last year and investment to replace EU structural funds will increase in each of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland next year.
  • Government confirmed in manifesto commitment that priorities for Scotland will continue to be set in Scotland by the people and democratically elected Government of Scotland.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Marion Fellows SNP
Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
Context

The question arises from ongoing discussions and concerns about how the UK shared prosperity fund will interact with devolved administrations.

Question

What recent discussions has the government had with the devolved Administrations on the shared prosperity fund?

Answer from Luke Hall

We will work both with the devolved Administrations and local communities to ensure that the UK shared prosperity fund supports citizens right across the country. We have demonstrated that commitment by confirming that the devolved Administrations will have a place within the governance structures for the fund.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Provided general statement without specifics on recent discussions and mechanisms of involvement.

How: We Are Committed To

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Q2 Marion Fellows SNP
Economy Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
Context

Concerns about the mechanism and timeline for involving the Scottish Government in decisions regarding shared prosperity funding allocations.

Question

When will we learn what the mechanism is for involving the Scottish Government in decisions about who receives funding? Who will be the final arbiter? How much money will be available? When will the process begin?

Answer from Luke Hall

The money is well known about, and we published the heads of terms document last year. Investment to replace EU structural funds will increase in each of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland next year, compared with this financial year, thanks to the funds that the Chancellor is putting in. We will ramp up total domestic UK-wide funding so that it will at least match EU receipts, reaching around £1.5 billion a year. Further details of the operation of the additional funding will be published soon, but in the meantime we will continue to engage with the devolved Administrations on the important additional funds.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Avoided specifics about timing and mechanism for involving the Scottish Government in decisions.

How: We Are Committed To

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Q3 Patricia Gibson SNP
Scotland
Context

Concerns about whether priorities for Scotland will be set by the Scottish Government and involve democratic processes.

Question

Will the Minister confirm that the priorities for Scotland will continue to be set in Scotland, by the people of Scotland and the democratically elected Government of Scotland?

Answer from Luke Hall

Of course, the first part of the hon. Lady's question was confirmed in a manifesto commitment from this Government. I assure her that we have been having engagement events right across the United Kingdom, with 16 such events in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We have confirmed that the devolved Administrations will have a place in the oversight of the fund; we have been working closely with them, and I will reach out to them soon to organise discussions about the delivery of the fund directly into Scotland.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Avoided specific confirmation on setting priorities within Scotland.

How: We Are Committed To

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