Extracts from Lords debate on the Spending Review 2020 - Dec 3
Friday, 4 December 2020 08:09
Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Con) [V]:...Many people and businesses
are anxious to hear more of how the numerous grants and support
vehicles received to date from the EU are to be replicated from
2021. Regional and rural development in particular have benefited
from these. There is reference in the review to the new UK shared
prosperity fund, which it says “will at least match receipts from
EU structural funds”. But are the same criteria to be applied? If
not, what changes in delivery or...Request free trial
(Con) [V]:...Many people and
businesses are anxious to hear more of how the numerous grants and
support vehicles received to date from the EU are to be replicated
from 2021. Regional and rural development in particular have
benefited from these. There is reference in the review to the new
UK shared prosperity fund, which it says
“will at least match receipts from EU structural funds”.
But are the same criteria to be applied? If not, what changes in
delivery or distribution will the Government make?
(Lab) [V]...Thirdly, does the Minister
think that the Government are going about the levelling-up agenda
in the right way? We have a proliferation of centrally governed
funds, including the Levelling Up Fund, the Towns Fund, the
Shared Prosperity Fund—I think I could list about
20 of them—for which local government has to bid. MPs will play a
big role in choosing how the money is spent. Is this really a
sensible way to go about things? Surely, we should go back to the
previous commitments that the Government made for a fair funding
review, so that local authorities can be funded on a much fairer
basis according to their needs. At the same time, we should push
forward with a proper agenda on devolution...
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