Plaid Cymru has issued a stark warning to the Secretary of State
for Wales, after he indicated that money to replace EU funding
could be distributed by Westminster and not Cardiff Bay as is
currently the case.
Plaid Cymru’s Treasury Spokesperson MP said that
it would be another “economic and constitutional power grab” by
Westminster, if the funding was to be taken out of the hands of
the devolved institutions. The Westminster Government has
currently given little more information than the name – the
Shared Prosperity Fund – of the post-Brexit replacement for EU
Structural Funds. It was due to publish a consultation on its
plans by the end of last year, but has failed to do so.
Responsibility for the Shared Prosperity Fund is currently held
by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Currently it is an England-only Government Department, as local
government and housing are devolved policy areas.
During a cross-examination of the Secretary of State in a Welsh
Affairs evidence session (Monday 1 April), responded to questions about
the structure of the Shared Prosperity Fund by saying there were
more “creative” ways the money could be distributed. He
repeatedly failed to confirm that the National Assembly for Wales
would retain the power to distribute the funds, saying that
Westminster may give the money to councils or directly to
projects themselves.
Mr Cairns also failed to confirm that the overall amount of
funding would be the same as is currently received by Wales as a
member of the EU.
Commenting,
MP said:
“Westminster has shown little or no regard for Wales
throughout the Brexit process. Sadly we shouldn’t be surprised
that our post-Brexit funding is not high on their priority
list.
“In fact, the only time Wales seems to cross the minds of
the Westminster Government is when they want to cancel an
infrastructure project, remove funding or take away our powers.
“If, as is being suggested by , Westminster ignores devolution
and takes control of economic development policy post-Brexit, it
will be another economic and constitutional power grab of
significant proportions.
“We were promised a land of milk and honey post-Brexit,
but it looks again like all we will be offered is scraps off the
table, as the Welsh Secretary also failed to guarantee the levels
of funding we currently receive as members of the
EU.
“Westminster must not continue to use Brexit as a blanket
under which they roll back devolution – Plaid Cymru will
continue fight them every step of the way.”
