4th Report: Wales and the Shared Prosperity Fund: Priorities for the replacement of EU structural funding

The government acknowledges the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will succeed EU structural funds and contribute to levelling up. It commits to providing additional funding in 2021-22 to help local areas prepare for the UKSPF, with further details to be published in the New Year.

The government commits to working with devolved administrations and local communities on the UKSPF and states that EU structural fund investment will be higher in 2021-22, with additional funding provided for 2021-22; however, it does not explicitly guarantee no cliff edge specifically regarding COVID-19 response funding beyond January 2021 or agree to the specific October/November deadlines for co-creation.

The government acknowledges the committee's observation that EU structural funds did not deliver transformative change for the Welsh economy, asserting that the new UKSPF will redefine domestic priorities and target investment to level up the UK.

The government accepts the recommendation, stating the UKSPF will invest in people, communities, and local businesses to level up and create opportunity, focusing on improved employment outcomes, driving productivity, and addressing skills shortages in Wales, and provides £220m additional funding for 2021-22.

The government will provide £220m in 2021-22 for local areas to pilot programmes and new approaches, and the longer-term SPF will invest in people, communities, and business to improve employment, productivity, and address skills shortages in Wales.

The government accepts the recommendation in part, committing to matching current EU receipts, ensuring the UKSPF operates over multiple years, and targeting places most in need; however, the specific needs-based formula and detailed funding profile will be set out at the next Spending Review.

The government commits to matching current EU receipts with UK-wide funding averaging £1.5 billion annually, ensures multi-year funding for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and intends to work with the Welsh Government. Further details will be provided in a UK-wide investment framework in the spring and funding profile at the next Spending Review.

The government acknowledges the committee's observation about the overly bureaucratic nature of EU structural funds and recognises the opportunity to develop a new, simplified, and integrated approach for the UKSPF, with further details to be published in the spring.

The government acknowledges the problems of bureaucracy in EU funds and the opportunity for a simplified UKSPF, but does not yet detail the specific lessons learned, the review work undertaken, or how they intend to overcome these problems, deferring further details to a UK-wide investment framework in the spring.

The government acknowledges the committee's concern by stating its intention to work with the Welsh Government, local communities, and other devolved administrations to ensure the UK Shared Prosperity Fund supports citizens in Wales, with further details to be published in upcoming frameworks.

The government accepts the recommendation, stating its intention to work with the Welsh Government, local communities, local authorities, and Devolved Administrations to ensure the UKSPF supports citizens in Wales, with further details on funding and framework to be published in the New Year and spring.

The government acknowledges the need for genuine joint working and engagement for the Shared Prosperity Fund by stating its intention to work with the Welsh Government, local communities, and other stakeholders, but does not explicitly commit to developing a memorandum of understanding.

The government outlines how the UKSPF will enable local places to shape investment and complement City and Growth Deals, confirming that officials have discussed lessons learned from these deals with devolved administrations and local authorities.

The government states that the UKSPF will enable local places to shape investment and complement City and Growth Deal funding, confirming that officials have discussed lessons learned from these deals with devolved administrations and local authorities.

The government acknowledges the pandemic's impact and details its plans to provide £220m in additional funding for 2021-22 for local areas to transition from EU structural funds, with the long-term UKSPF investing in people, communities, and businesses to level up.

The government responds with a general vision for the UKSPF, highlighting its intent to succeed EU structural funds and level up the UK, but does not explicitly commit to publishing detailed proposals or address the urgency requested by the committee.

The government acknowledges the committee's observation about the limited transformative impact of past EU funding, explaining that the new UKSPF will address this by redefining domestic priorities and targeting investment to level up communities across the UK.

The government commits to ramping up UKSPF investment to at least match current EU receipts, with a portion targeting places most in need, and confirms the fund will operate multi-annually, with its funding profile to be set at the next Spending Review.

The government commits to embracing a partnership approach by working and engaging with devolved administrations, local communities, and other organisations to ensure the UKSPF supports citizens, and states further details regarding preparatory funding will be published.

The government outlines its plans for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to succeed EU structural funds, aiming to level up and create opportunity across the UK through investments in businesses, people, and communities, working with Devolved Administrations.