Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Shared Prosperity Fund

Wednesday 25 May 2022 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Wayne David inquired about recent discussions with the First Minister of Wales regarding the Shared Prosperity Fund.
  • The Secretary of State responded that regular discussions cover how Wales's 585 million allocation will level up communities.
  • Wayne David expressed concern that analyses suggest the fund may redirect resources from poorer areas to more prosperous ones in Wales.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Wayne David Lab
Economy Wales
Context

The MP inquired about the recent talks regarding how Wales's share of the UK shared prosperity fund would be used to level up communities.

Question

What recent discussions has the Secretary had with the First Minister of Wales on the shared prosperity fund?

Answer from Simon Hart

I have regular discussions with the First Minister of Wales on a range of issues, including how Wales's £585 million share of the UK shared prosperity fund will level up communities across our country.

Answered
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Q2 Wayne David Lab
Wales
Context

The MP expressed concern that independent analyses suggest the shared prosperity fund could shift resources from poorer areas like the valleys to more prosperous regions in Wales.

Question

Does the Secretary of State share my concern that according to a number of independent analyses, the shared prosperity fund is likely to shift resources away from the valleys, the poorest parts of Wales, to more prosperous parts?

Answer from Simon Hart

Unsurprisingly, I contest the hon. Gentleman's assertion. By 2024-25, annual funding from the shared prosperity fund will match the average annual funding that Wales would have received from the European Regional Development Fund after adjusting for inflation. It is also noted by Guto Ifan, research associate at the Welsh Governance Centre.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific concern about resource shifting to more prosperous parts of Wales was not directly addressed or rebutted with concrete evidence against the claim.

How: Contest Hon. Gentleman'S Assertion, Noting Guto Ifan'S Statement Without Addressing The Core Issue

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