Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Paragraph: 12
The UKSPF could bring significant benefits to Scotland if it is designed and delivered effectively.
Recommendation
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.
Paragraph Reference:
12
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The UK Government has a responsibility to support the economic health of people, businesses and communities across the whole UK. Only the UK Government can take a strategic view of the whole of the UK, allocating funding in all parts of the country irrespective of administrative borders. The UK Government intends to work with the Devolved Administrations to ensure that funding is used to best effect and supports citizens across the UK. We have demonstrated this commitment by confirming that the Devolved Administrations will have a place within the governance structures for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Government will continue to engage the Devolved Administrations and local partners as we develop the fund’s investment framework, in advance of its publication. UK Government officials continue to regularly engage with their counterparts in the Scottish Government. Scottish Government officials have been invited to all regional engagement events in Scotland. The Secretary of State for Scotland, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government met with Ivan McKee in March 2021 as Scottish Government Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation to discuss the funds announced at Budget, including the UK Community Renewal Fund, the Levelling Up Fund and the Community Ownership Fund. We will also engage ministers in the Devolved Administrations on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, including through the Interministerial Group for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which will formalise arrangements for regular ministerial engagement on all issues in MHCLG’s portfolio. Officials from MHCLG and the Devolved Administrations are working on the arrangements to establish this forum for regular discussions between ministers.