Recommendations & Conclusions
9 items
1
Recommendation
Third Report - The UK Shared Prosperity…
Accepted
We welcome the UK Government’s original intentions to formally consult on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and its early efforts to engage local authorities in Scotland. However, we are concerned that a formal consultation has not taken place, given that the UKSPF is due to commence next year. The …
Read more
We welcome the UK Government’s original intentions to formally consult on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and its early efforts to engage local authorities in Scotland. However, we are concerned that a formal consultation has not taken place, given that the UKSPF is due to commence next year. The uncertainty is hindering planning efforts and poses risks to a smooth transition from EU funds to the UKSPF. The UK Government must launch a formal, public consultation on its proposals for the UKSPF by autumn 2021.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government states it has been engaging widely with stakeholders on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund since 2016 through various events and roundtables, implicitly indicating these efforts address the need for consultation without committing to a new formal public consultation by autumn 2021.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
2
Recommendation
Third Report - The UK Shared Prosperity…
Accepted
The UKSPF could bring significant benefits to Scotland if it is designed and delivered effectively. Collaboration between the UK and Scottish Governments and local authorities will be vital to ensuring that the UKSPF uses the expertise built up through decades of delivering EU funds and benefits the people of Scotland. …
Read more
The UKSPF could bring significant benefits to Scotland if it is designed and delivered effectively. Collaboration between the UK and Scottish Governments and local authorities will be vital to ensuring that the UKSPF uses the expertise built up through decades of delivering EU funds and benefits the people of Scotland. We urge the UK and Scottish Governments to work constructively together in the design and delivery of the UKSPF.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government accepts the need for collaboration, detailing various ongoing and planned engagement mechanisms with the Scottish Government, including their place in governance structures, regular official engagement, ministerial meetings, and the establishment of an Interministerial Group.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
3
Recommendation
Third Report - The UK Shared Prosperity…
Deferred
We welcome the UK Government’s commitment that all UK nations will receive at least the same amount of funds under UKSPF as under the EU Funds. It is, however, unclear how much funding will be available per year, even as an average. The UK Government’s multi-year funding profile should clarify …
Read more
We welcome the UK Government’s commitment that all UK nations will receive at least the same amount of funds under UKSPF as under the EU Funds. It is, however, unclear how much funding will be available per year, even as an average. The UK Government’s multi-year funding profile should clarify how much funding will be available each year for the UK and for Scotland for at least the first five years of the UKSPF. The UK Government’s multi-year funding profile should clarify how much funding will be available each year for the UK and for Scotland for at least the first five years of the UKSPF.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government states that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund's multi-year funding profile, including annual allocations for the UK and Scotland, will be set out at the next Spending Review and further details published later in 2021.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
4
Recommendation
Third Report - The UK Shared Prosperity…
Deferred
The UK Government must clarify how and when EU rural development funding, including the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF), will be replaced. Otherwise, there is a risk that expertise and capacity built up through delivering those funds will be lost. (Paragraph 19) …
Read more
The UK Government must clarify how and when EU rural development funding, including the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF), will be replaced. Otherwise, there is a risk that expertise and capacity built up through delivering those funds will be lost. (Paragraph 19) Allocation of funding
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government will consider at Spending Review 2021 whether to replace LEADER and EAFRD funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund or other farm support programmes, thereby deferring clarification on how and when this funding will be replaced.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
5
Recommendation
Third Report - The UK Shared Prosperity…
Accepted in Part
It is unclear how the CRF will feed into the development of the UKSPF. In March 2022, a year after it began, the UK Government should evaluate the Community Renewal Fund and publish its findings on how well the fund has operated. This evaluation should highlight implications for the design …
Read more
It is unclear how the CRF will feed into the development of the UKSPF. In March 2022, a year after it began, the UK Government should evaluate the Community Renewal Fund and publish its findings on how well the fund has operated. This evaluation should highlight implications for the design and delivery of the UKSPF.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government states the UK Community Renewal Fund will inform the design of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and describes active research and stakeholder engagement to learn lessons, but does not commit to a formal evaluation and publication of findings by March 2022.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
6
Recommendation
Third Report - The UK Shared Prosperity…
Acknowledged
A lack of transparency in the selection process for the UKSPF could damage trust in the fund and those delivering it. The UK Government should ensure that its methodology and criteria for allocating UKSPF funds are clear and transparent.
Government response AI summary
The government states it will publish further detail on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund later this year and confirm its funding profile at the next Spending Review, indicating that information will be provided but not explicitly committing to clear and transparent allocation methodology and criteria.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
7
Recommendation
Third Report - The UK Shared Prosperity…
Accepted in Part
We welcome UK Government support to help local authorities build their capacity to develop bids. In its response to this Report, the UK Government should clarify 14 The UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Scotland how much funding has been given to local authorities in Scotland to help them build capacity …
Read more
We welcome UK Government support to help local authorities build their capacity to develop bids. In its response to this Report, the UK Government should clarify 14 The UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Scotland how much funding has been given to local authorities in Scotland to help them build capacity in developing bids for the UKSPF. In its response to this Report, the UK Government should clarify how much funding has been given to local authorities in Scotland to help them build capacity in developing bids for the UKSPF.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government clarifies that Scottish local authorities will receive £125,000 for Levelling Up Fund bids and £20,000 for UK Community Renewal Fund bids in priority places, but details on up to £14 million in specific UK Shared Prosperity Fund capacity funding will be released later …
Read full response →
Scotland Office
8
Recommendation
Third Report - The UK Shared Prosperity…
Not Addressed
The UK Government should prioritise academic research funding when allocating resources under the UKSPF. The UK Government should collaborate with the Scottish Government, to ensure that regions where structural funding for universities has brought significant regional benefits, are not disproportionally disadvantaged by the transition to the UKSPF.
Read more
The UK Government should prioritise academic research funding when allocating resources under the UKSPF. The UK Government should collaborate with the Scottish Government, to ensure that regions where structural funding for universities has brought significant regional benefits, are not disproportionally disadvantaged by the transition to the UKSPF.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government's response outlines the general purpose of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, but does not address the specific recommendations regarding prioritising academic research funding or collaborating with the Scottish Government to prevent universities from being disproportionately disadvantaged.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
9
Recommendation
Third Report - The UK Shared Prosperity…
Deferred
We recommend that the UK Government evaluates the progress of the UKSPF after one year of operation and publishes a report, to ensure that funding is delivering the levelling up agenda by being allocated to the areas and sectors of greatest need. (Paragraph 33) The UK Shared Prosperity Fund and …
Read more
We recommend that the UK Government evaluates the progress of the UKSPF after one year of operation and publishes a report, to ensure that funding is delivering the levelling up agenda by being allocated to the areas and sectors of greatest need. (Paragraph 33) The UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Scotland 15
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government states evaluation will be central to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund but defers providing further details on how and when this will happen.
Read full response →
Scotland Office