Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 11
11
The Department reassured us that it was expecting to work very closely with each of...
Conclusion
The Department reassured us that it was expecting to work very closely with each of the devolved Governments and with the individual local authorities responsible for delivery. We were, however, sceptical about how close past cooperation with devolved Governments had really been and the extent to which it enabled national priorities to be accommodated, though we acknowledged that co-operation between officials appeared to have improved.29 The Department considered the recent experience with Scottish Green Freeports a “really good example” of collaboration between the UK and Scottish governments. We noted, however that Scottish Green Freeports took a long time to agree and suggested that may have been because the Scottish Government eventually secured requirements that it wanted to include but that hadn’t featured in the UK government’s requirements.30 Decision-making when awarding funds
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
5.1 The department agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: To be confirmed 5.2 Although the government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation, it disagrees with the conclusion it is based on. 5.3 The department’s priority is delivering effective investment in all parts of the UK. For LUF, the round two prospectus confirms across both rounds at least 9% of the total allocation will be set aside for Scotland, 5% for Wales, and 3% for Northern Ireland, subject to a suitable number of high-quality bids coming forward. The Prospectus and Technical Note set out how applicants in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should set out how bids align with, or complement, wider public service investments made available by the devolved administrations. Where appropriate, the department will seek input from devolved administrations on projects to be delivered in their geographical areas, including on deliverability and alignment with existing provision. 5.4 UKSPF funding has been fully allocated for 2022-23 to 2024-25. Recognising individual differences between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the allocation method was adapted for each part of the UK. The department set out a methodology note explaining how it ensured funding going to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland meets funding received under European Structural Funds. Future UKSPF funding is a matter for Spending Review 2024. 5.5 The department delegated delivery of UKSPF in Scotland and Wales to local authorities; and working closely with local partners in Northern Ireland. This means local people will play a leading role in prioritising and tailoring UKSPF to local needs. 5.6 To ensure there is a platform to discuss issues of mutual interest within the department's portfolio, officials worked with devolved governments to establish an Interministerial Group, which first met on 24 May. In addition, the inaugural meeting of the Interministerial Standing Committee in late March was chaired by the department’s Secretary of State and attended by the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales and intergovernmental relations ministers, to discuss strategic and cross-cutting elements of levelling up.