Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK Community Renewal Fund

Wednesday 17 March 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

  • Wendy Chamberlain inquired about the economic effect of the UK community renewal fund on Wales and the involvement of devolved administrations.
  • The Minister stated that decisions will involve Devolved Governments, local Members of Parliament, and local authorities.
  • Gerald Jones questioned why communities in Wales would receive less funding from the community renewal fund compared to EU structural funds.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife
Economy Wales Local Government
Context

The question is prompted by the need to understand how effectively the UK community renewal fund will support Wales economically, considering its predecessor European funding.

Question

What assessment has been made of the economic effect of the UK community renewal fund on Wales. According to the community renewal fund's prospectus, devolved Administrations have a place within governing structures, but there is confusion about their realistic role as heard by the Scottish Affairs Committee. So will the Minister set out exactly how devolved Governments will be involved in decision-making for fund release?

Answer from David Davies

Devolved Governments will be involved in decisions along with local Members of Parliament and local authorities. The leader of a Liberal Democrat council called for UK Government support to empower local authorities, which is exactly what has been done.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked specifically about the involvement of devolved Governments in decision-making structures but the answer did not provide clear details on this involvement.

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Q2 Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife
Scotland Local Government
Context

Following concerns raised by the Scottish Affairs Committee, there is uncertainty about the role of devolved Administrations within the governing structures of the new fund.

Question

According to the community renewal fund's prospectus, devolved Administrations have a place within governing structures, but when the Scottish Affairs Committee took evidence from academics a fortnight ago, we heard of confusion as to what role they would realistically play. So will the Minister set out exactly how the devolved Governments will be involved in decision-making structures for funds released?

Answer from David Davies

Devolved Governments, local Members of Parliament, and local authorities will be involved in decisions. The leader of a Liberal Democrat council called for UK Government support to empower local authorities, which is exactly what has been done.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked specifically about the involvement of devolved Governments but the answer did not provide clear details on this aspect.

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Q3 Gerald Jones Lab Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare
Wales Brexit
Context

Tories have claimed that Wales would not be worse off post-EU, but the new community renewal fund valued at £220 million for the whole of the UK is far less than the promised £375 million annually.

Question

The Tories claim that Wales would not be worse off when EU structural funds end, but the community renewal fund's value of £220 million for the whole of the UK is just a fraction of the £375 million per year promised to Wales. Why are communities in Wales once again having to foot the bill for Tory broken promises?

Answer from David Davies

Not only will the fund enable access to the shared prosperity fund, but European structural funding for Wales will continue for at least three more financial years. The amount received next year will be higher than previous years.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked about why communities in Wales have to face financial burdens due to the discrepancy between EU funds and the community renewal fund, but the answer did not address this specifically.

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