Extract from Oral answer
(Lords) on Victorian Mills
(CB): My Lords, will
the Government replace the money we have received up to now from
the EU for heritage projects, without which mill conversions will
be significantly more difficult?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport () (Con): The details on that are not yet fully worked
out but the noble Earl will be aware of the shared
prosperity fund which is looking to address a number of
areas of previous EU funding.
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Extract from Treasury
Questions
(Blaenau Gwent) (Lab): Blaenau
Gwent needs investment in the Ebbw Vale to Cardiff train line for
extra services. The shared prosperity fund could
be a crucial route to providing that. When will the fund be ready
to support infrastructure projects in our eastern valleys?
: The hon. Gentleman will know
that, as we transition from EU structural funds to the
shared prosperity fund it will be important that
we set out exactly how that will work. With reference to his
question, it means that the Welsh Government will have to work
closely with us to see how we can use that for infrastructure
projects in Wales.
Extract from Opposition
day debate (Commons) on Migration and Scotland
(Penistone and
Stocksbridge) (Con):...Levelling up is not just about financial
investment, bricks and mortar, and miles of train track. The
national soul-searching of the past four years has demonstrated
that there are areas of our country, particularly northern towns
such as Penistone and Stocksbridge, that have been left
behind—not just in an economic sense, although that is certainly
the case, but in terms of how our communities and our culture are
understood and valued as part of our national life. As I said, I
have lived in the area my whole life, and that is by no means
unusual. Our towns and villages are wonderful places to live, not
least because of the strength and depth of community life. Social
mobility should not mean having to leave your home, your family
and your community to find work, training or investment. We do
have ambition, aspiration and talent, but we are also rooted in a
deep sense of place. We need opportunities right in the heart of
our communities, and this Government’s initiatives, such as the
towns fund and the shared prosperity fund will
help us to deliver...
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Extract from Committee
stage (Commons) of the Agriculture Bill
Q Good afternoon. In general, what changes would you like to see
that would improve this Bill, from your point of view? I am
particularly looking at George.
Judicaelle Hammond (Director of policy and advice of the Country
Land and Business Association): The main one, as I said—I will
not labour the point—is the delay in the start of the transition.
It also seems to us that a couple of other things would be
improved if they were done differently. For example, the
multi-annual framework for financial assistance is five years. I
can see why it has been done like that, but that means that it is
at risk of being entangled with the political and election
cycles. As far as I know, farmers in the EU—which is going to be
our closest competitor—will still have seven years to plan. That
is closer to the business cycle in agriculture, so we would
favour lengthening the period covered by the multi-annual
financial assistance framework.
The other thing that could be added to the Bill is a provision on
rural development and, in particular, socioeconomic funding
schemes. In the new world, that is going to be done via the UK
shared prosperity fund but that is not due to
arrive until 2022 at the earliest. What would happen if that got
delayed, or got into other difficulties? We would like to see
some provision to make sure that it is possible for Government to
continue socioeconomic schemes...
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