Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Wednesday 6 July 2022 · 5 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Sally-Ann Hart inquired about discussions with Cabinet colleagues regarding the UK shared prosperity fund for Wales, noting the 585 million allocation aimed at leveling up communities.
  • The Secretary of State emphasized direct funding to local authorities in Wales for the UK shared prosperity fund, aiming to empower local communities and businesses.
  • Concerns were raised about the timescale and potential clawback of funds by central Government, to which the Secretary of State assured that the shared prosperity fund is a cast-iron commitment.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sally-Ann Hart
Wales Local Government
Context

Discussions on how the UK Shared Prosperity Fund can benefit Wales, particularly in terms of local empowerment and alignment with community priorities.

Question

What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of the UK shared prosperity fund for Wales. With a £585 million allocation for Wales, there is interest in how this funding will be utilized to level up communities across the region.

Answer from Simon Hart

I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on how Wales's £585 million share of the UKSPF will level up communities across Wales. With local authorities, business, the third sector and civil society fully engaged, the UKSPF will mean quicker delivery, better targeting and closer alignment with local priorities than previous EU funding.

Answered
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Q2 Sally-Ann Hart
Wales Local Government
Context

Concern about the implementation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and its direct impact on local communities in Wales.

Question

The priority of the UK shared prosperity fund is to empower local communities, business and people, with the funding for delivery going directly to local authorities in Wales. Can my right hon. Friend outline the steps he is taking to work directly with local communities in Wales to ensure the delivery of local priorities, and the benefits that that will bring to people, communities and businesses in Wales?

Answer from Simon Hart

My hon. Friend makes a good point about devolution. Of course, it frustrates Opposition Members that we are taking devolution to its literal limit as far as the funds are concerned; we are going to 22 local authority stakeholders across Wales.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer sidestepped the specific measures and benefits for communities by focusing on the process of distribution.

How: Frustrates Opposition Members

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Q3 Wayne David Lab
Wales Local Government
Context

Concern among local authorities that allocated UK Shared Prosperity Fund money may not be spent, leading to a risk of clawbacks by the central government.

Question

Given the timescale involved, there is a lot of concern among local authorities in Wales that moneys allocated under the shared prosperity fund will not in fact be spent by them, and the money therefore will be clawed back by central Government. Will the Secretary of State say that that will not happen?

Answer from Simon Hart

I got the gist of the hon. Gentleman's question. Of course, the shared prosperity fund is an absolute cast-iron commitment. It has thousands of jobs at its disposal. We think it has great potential across the whole of Wales and we are very happy of course, if he has individual examples that concern him, to address them.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide a clear commitment regarding clawback risks but instead offered general reassurances about the fund's potential.

How: If He Has Individual Examples

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Q4 Alun Cairns Con
Economy Wales Local Government
Context

Concern over the previous European aid scheme and a desire to ensure that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund benefits places like Vale of Glamorgan, which were excluded from the former European scheme.

Question

The Welsh Government wasted close to £5 billion of the former European aid in west Wales and the valleys. What reassurance can my right hon. Friend give me that the UK shared prosperity fund will reflect UK priorities, working with local authorities in Wales—in all of Wales—to ensure that places such as the Vale of Glamorgan benefit, having been excluded by the former European scheme?

Answer from Simon Hart

My right hon. Friend puts his finger on exactly why the levelling-up fund and the UK shared prosperity fund are so vital. What they do is go straight to local communities. This allows them to make bids and decisions on behalf of their constituents, residents and ratepayers in a way no other scheme has previously enabled them to do. That is why this is innovative and will lead to sustainable jobs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide direct reassurances but instead highlighted the fund's benefits over previous schemes without addressing specific priorities directly.

How: Puts His Finger On Exactly

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Q5 Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens
Economy Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
Context

Concern over the impact of UK Treasury policies on capital investment programmes in Wales, particularly regarding red diesel use.

Question

What type of shared prosperity is it when the UK Treasury plunders capital investment programmes in Wales by refusing to let contractors use red diesel instead of white diesel, further driving up construction inflation to the benefit of the UK Treasury and the detriment of Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland?

Answer from Simon Hart

I do not think that question has any sensible context to it, because the proposals that have been set out—by the Treasury or, indeed, through the levelling-up and shared prosperity funds—make it absolutely clear how those funds will benefit all communities in a way that they have not before. Picking specific examples and saying that this is an anomaly overlooks, I think deliberately, all the criteria that underpin the funding methods I have talked about.

Not addressed: The question was deflected by questioning the relevance of the raised issue without addressing the impact on construction costs.

How: Picking Specific Examples, Anomaly

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