(Glasgow
Central) (SNP):...The Scottish Government are reviewing measures
to tackle historic disparity. It would be useful to hear whether
the Minister has any further information about things like
the shared prosperity fund because European
money has been absolutely crucial to addressing that historic
disparity in a number of ways. In areas of Scotland where we have
been working so hard over so many years to try to correct that
post-industrial Thatcher legacy, European money has been crucial,
not just for constructing buildings and other things, but putting
money into training programmes, universities, colleges and
infrastructure. During last week’s education debate, my hon.
Friend the Member for Glasgow North West ()
mentioned the importance of college education in Scotland. I have
City of Glasgow College in my constituency, which now has two
campuses in the city centre, and looks and feels like a beacon
that will attract people to enter. It does not sit, up on
Cathedral Street, with any less dignity than the University of
Strathclyde, which neighbours it, and that is important for how
people feel when they are accessing those education
institutions...
The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury ( ):...In her
powerful speech for the SNP, the hon. Member for Glasgow Central
()
mentioned the UK shared prosperity fund. Obviously, we are
determined to make sure that that is delivered correctly; we need
to take the time to get that right. I confirm that we will be
setting out our full plans at the comprehensive spending review
later this year. That will be the moment when we start unveiling
how that will work and give people the clarity that they need to
make the investment decisions over the course of the years ahead,
as we transition out of the European Union.
: The
Minister says “correctly”. His definition and interpretation of
that might be slightly different from mine. Will the Scottish
Parliament and the Scottish Government have full control over the
purse strings and decision making for the shared prosperity fund?
Mr Clarke: I am afraid the hon. Lady will have to wait for the
publication of the consultation at the comprehensive spending
review. The key point is that we want to make sure that this
gives the Scottish Government meaningful control over key aspects
of resources. She mentioned European funding in her remarks. The
point I would submit is that that money was fundamentally UK
money that was recycled back to this country, with conditions
attached. We should be clear that we want to devolve control of
that funding to the lowest possible level, and we will inevitably
want to do so in a spirit of genuine concord with Holyrood.
(Barnsley Central)
(Lab):...I want very briefly to reflect on two points that the
Minister referred to. First, the transforming cities fund is
absolutely vital for us, in terms of productivity and economic
growth. We have worked incredibly hard with the Department for
Transport to put forward an outstanding bid into the transforming
cities fund. I am the only metro mayor who has been required to
bid for that money. My parliamentary colleagues in South
Yorkshire, who now include three Conservative Members for the
first time, and I will be looking very closely at what the
Chancellor announces in his Budget in March.
I want to reiterate the points that the hon. Member for Glasgow
Central () rightly
made about the shared prosperity fund. It is a critical amount of
money for our regional economies. I am pleased that the Minister
said that the consultation will be launched later this year. It
is vital that both regional and national leaders can contribute
to the important process of determining how the shared prosperity
fund will be allocated in our regional economies—that is
incredibly important. We urgently require clarity so that we can
make long-term investment decisions...
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