Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 42
42
Paragraph: 117
The new UK Shared Prosperity Fund offers an opportunity to improve on the design and...
Conclusion
The new UK Shared Prosperity Fund offers an opportunity to improve on the design and administration of European Structural Investment Funds in relation to the funding of adult skills. Cross-government working will be critical to delivering the cross-cutting agenda this funding supports. We expect the Department to take a far more proactive stance in inter-Departmental discussions on the successor funds for both the ESF and the ERDF, and to ensure that local and combined authorities feed into those discussions.
Paragraph Reference:
117
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
109. Following EU exit, the Government has committed to replacing European Structural Funds via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). To help local areas prepare over 2021– 22 for the introduction of the UKSPF, the government will provide an additional £220m for UK-wide funding to support communities to pilot programmes and new approaches. 110. The Government has set out in the Heads and Terms of the UKSPF that UK-wide UKSPF funding will at least match current EU receipts, on average reaching around £1.5 billion a year. This includes a portion of the fund with bespoke employment and skills programmes that are tailored to local need. These will support improved employment and skills outcomes for those in and out of work in specific cohorts of people who face labour market barriers. 111. We are working closely with colleagues across other government departments including the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Work and Pensions to establish the UKSPF. 112. The new powers in the UK Internal Market Act 2020 will enable the UK Government to invest in our communities across the UK in a variety of possible ways across all four nations. This includes delivering a UKSPF which allows the UK Government to invest directly in communities across our four nations. 113. Additionally, the Government has made clear at every opportunity that it intends to continue to work in partnership with the devolved administrations and local communities. This will make sure that this new power is used to best effect. We have demonstrated this commitment by confirming that the devolved administrations will have a place within the governance structures for the Fund. 114. Further detail will be set out with the publication of an investment framework in the spring.