(North Ayrshire and Arran)
(SNP)
6. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on
the shared prosperity fund. [911248]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy (Jake Berry)
The Prime Minister recently appointed me as a joint Minister in
this Department and in my existing role in the Ministry of
Housing, Communities and Local Government. That shows the
Government’s commitment to drive forward the northern powerhouse,
which has always been a partnership between local government,
national Government, the industrial strategy and business. In
this role I will continue to hold regular meetings to discuss EU
exit, and the UK shared prosperity fund will remain a priority in
that.
Mr Speaker
This shows that the Minister is a very busy man with many
commitments and a very full diary.
The Prime Minister told me in December 2018 that a consultation
on the UK shared prosperity fund would take place by the end of
that year. The silence on progress with this fund to replace the
EU structural fund, worth €2.4 billion a year, is deafening and
the lack of detail and communication is shameful given that these
funds are designed to help all communities prosper. Once and for
all will the Secretary of State tell us when this fund will be
designed and implemented? Will it match current levels or is this
important fund going to be yet another casualty of Brexit?
The hon. Lady is absolutely right that this Government have set
forward our ambition to deliver a UK shared prosperity fund that
creates wealth, growth and jobs in all parts of our United
Kingdom. We have been clear that we will respect the devolution
settlement, and we have been absolutely clear that we will
consult the Scottish Government and other devolved Governments
before we start the consultation on that. But the hon. Lady does
not have to wait until then, because there have been meetings
between officials and over 500 stakeholders at 25 official events
across the country, and I am sure the hon. Lady will look forward
to taking part in future events.
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
(Con)
The shared prosperity fund represents a really good opportunity
to improve the way in which we support poorer communities with
funding—far too much of the EU structural funding has been wasted
in the past—but will the Minister take this opportunity to scotch
some of the scaremongering that we have heard in recent days
about how the new shared prosperity fund will lead to a net loss
for places such as Wales and a net gain for the south-east? The
House of Commons Library has confirmed to me that this recent
study is based on unfair comparisons.
I would not question the authority, even-handedness and
open-mindedness of House of Commons Library. I would direct my
right hon. Friend the debate that took place in Westminster Hall
on 14 May, led by the hon. Member for Barnsley Central (Dan
Jarvis), in which colleagues and the Government set out in
considerable detail our ambition to drive jobs, growth and
prosperity in all parts of our United Kingdom through this fund.
(Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch
and Strathspey) (SNP)
Research from the independent Conference of Peripheral Maritime
Regions has shown that Scotland stands to lose nearly €1 billion
of funding if the UK Government do not match EU funding after
2020. Given what the Minister has said about his
responsibilities, will he tell us which of the 10 candidates for
Prime Minister have given guarantees to replace every penny of
this funding and retain Holyrood’s role in disbursing it?
It is welcome that the hon. Gentleman wants to play such an
active and full part in the Conservative leadership election, but
he knows, as I do, that decisions about the UK shared prosperity
fund, on quantum and all other matters, will be taken during the
comprehensive spending review and the consultation. I would say
to him that the Scottish Government must absolutely play their
part in being an advocate for the areas of Scotland that share
this Government’s ambition to create jobs, wealth and growth
through the UK shared prosperity fund, mirroring in many ways
what is being achieved through European funds.
The public will have heard that answer, which is clearly
insufficient and not good enough. The highlands and islands alone
stand to lose €180 million, and the Secretary of State for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has said that he is willing
to grab control of devolved spending. Is it any wonder that the
Scottish public are now looking to Scotland being an independent
nation state in Europe with an equal seat at the table, rather
than this shambles?
Well, Mr Speaker, if you want a strong demonstration that this
country is better together, you need look no further than the
highlands and islands growth deal, a partnership between the UK
Government and the Scottish Government that is changing lives for
people across the highlands and islands. That is a demonstration
in one Government policy of why this Union should stay together.
