Asked by
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to publish their
proposals for the roll out of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The Question was considered in a Virtual Proceeding via video
call.
The Minister of State, Home Office and Ministry of Housing,
Communities and Local Government (Lord Greenhalgh) (Con)
The Government recognise the importance of bringing clarity on
the UK shared prosperity fund. Decisions on its design will need
to be taken after a cross-government spending review. In the
meantime, we will continue to work closely with regional partners
while developing policy.
(LD)
I thank the Minister for that Answer, although it is rather
disappointing. This is urgent. In their manifesto, the Government
made a commitment to launch this fund. Time is running out on EU
funding, and we need this funding to bring up regions in the
post-Covid-19 recovery. Can the Minister give some feeling about
when this scheme will be announced in detail so that people can
prepare for it locally and regionally? Can he confirm that the
amounts available to regions will be the same as they would have
been under European funding?
Lord Greenhalgh
Yes, I can give the noble Lord an assurance that the amount of
funding will be at least at the same level as all the European
structural funds it replaces. I cannot say any more about the
timing, and I refer to my previous point about the importance of
the comprehensive spending review.
(Con)
My Lords, the assurance that the Minister has just given on
funding is very welcome. Do the Government propose to invite
competitive bids for the prosperity fund in England and make
decisions centrally, or to allocate funds to the areas and
regions concerned and promote local decision-making?
Lord Greenhalgh
I thank my noble friend for his question. This is a unique
opportunity to provide the right priorities for the United
Kingdom and to design something that levels up the four nations
and our less developed regions. It is a great opportunity to do
that and the details will be forthcoming. I note my noble
friend’s point.
(CB)
My Lords, from Stornoway’s Creative Industries Media Centre to
the television series “Peaky Blinders”, the European Regional
Development Fund has provided significant support to creative
industry projects in infrastructure and content across the
country. Will there be the same level of funding through the
prosperity fund? Will there be continuity of funding? Will there
be separate replacement funding for Creative Europe?
Lord Greenhalgh
I thank the noble Earl for his point about support for the
creative industries from the European Regional Development Fund.
The purpose of this new UK shared prosperity fund is to level up
and provide the support needed to do that. I cannot say any more
around specifics for support for the creative industries at this
stage.
(Lab Co-op)
My Lords, the Lords Select Committee on regenerating seaside
towns recommended that the UK shared prosperity fund should
target the development of coastal business. What is the
Government’s attitude to this, and when will we see detailed
proposals from the Government? Does the Minister agree that the
revival of our coastal towns, improving the offer to visitors,
has taken on a whole new importance as more and more of us will
be holidaying at home in the years ahead?
Lord Greenhalgh
I thank the noble Lord for raising the issue of support for
coastal towns. It is important that those economies are raised up
and do not fall behind the UK average. The whole purpose of this
fund is to level up the United Kingdom, and I assure the noble
Lord that we are specifically looking into the best way of doing
that.
(LD)
My Lords, the voluntary community and social enterprise sector
has made very effective use of EU structural funds. However,
generally it can be very difficult for the sector to access
public sector procurement and bidding processes. Therefore, will
the Minister undertake to consult the sector before the details
of this new scheme are put in place?
Lord Greenhalgh
I thank the noble Baroness for her question. It is very important
that we consult the local community and voluntary sector. This is
an opportunity, through one fund, to reduce bureaucracy and avoid
form-filling, and for precisely that reason we will engage with
the wider voluntary and community sector.
(Non-Afl)
My Lords, inequality anywhere is a threat to equality everywhere.
Will the Minister confirm that the priorities and objectives of
the UK shared prosperity fund will remain—in particular, to boost
economic development, especially in the inner cities and other
impoverished areas—irrespective of the Covid-19 situation?
Lord Greenhalgh
I thank the noble Lord. We have to ensure that we level up and
that that cuts across all communities that are lower than the
national average. That will be a focus for the fund in question.
(Con)
My Lords, programmes such as the LEADER programme are very
important for rural areas. Notwithstanding what my noble friend
has said about inner cities and seaside towns, will he confirm
that the funding in rural areas will not be diminished?
Lord Greenhalgh
We have a real opportunity, through the UK shared prosperity
fund, to design a fund that is driven by our national priorities
and needs. The decision on how the fund will be allocated will be
taken as part of the funding review. However, I underline that
support for rural areas is critical if we wish to achieve that
ambition.
(CB)
My Lords, there is increasing evidence of green projects creating
more jobs and delivering higher returns per pound invested. They
are also spread across the whole of the UK. Therefore, will the
Government prioritise green investments in their design of the
fund?
Lord Greenhalgh
The design of the fund will be made public at a later date. I
know of the interest that there is in green issues, and of course
they are a critical part of what the Government are seeking to
do.
(Lab)
Given that the left-behind places, which the Government promised
to help in the December general election, are likely to be the
hardest hit in the current economic crisis, will the Minister
assure us that the Government will have this fund ready for
operation by 1 January 2021, when EU structural funds end?
Lord Greenhalgh
I refer the noble Baroness to my previous answer. I cannot make a
specific commitment on the timing but we obviously realise that,
with the pandemic, it is important to proceed as fast as
possible.
(LD)
Will the Government not only replace the money for Wales from the
European funds pound for pound but match the powers that the
Welsh Government currently have over those funds?
Lord Greenhalgh
The noble Lord will recognise that Wales receives more per capita
than any of the four nations. I have made a commitment that the
overall level of the funds will, at the minimum, remain the same,
but I cannot go any further on the specific funding for the
various nations.
(Con)
My Lords, we are all well aware of the scenario in which the UK
Government provide the money and the devolved Administrations
then take the credit for spending it. Can my noble friend assure
us that all projects supported by the shared prosperity fund will
be appropriately branded to acknowledge the role of the UK
Government in order to underline the importance of our union?
Lord Greenhalgh
I can give my noble friend that specific assurance.
