4th Report: Wales and the Shared Prosperity Fund: Priorities for the replacement of EU structural funding
Select Committee
Welsh Affairs Committee
HC 90
2 October 2020
Government Response (AI assessment · 20 of 20 classified)
Accepted
9
Government response
4th Special Report: Wales and the Shared Prosperity Fund: Priorities for the replacement of EU structural funding: Government response to the Committee’s Fourth Report of Session 2019–21 · published 14 Dec 2020
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 16
Despite announcing the Shared Prosperity Fund more than three years ago, the Government appears to...
Conclusion
Despite announcing the Shared Prosperity Fund more than three years ago, the Government appears to have made negligible progress in developing its replacement for European Structural and Investment funding. Its repeated promises of a consultation and of imminent announcements have …
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Government Response Summary
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.
Wales Office
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3
Conclusion
Acknowledged
We acknowledge the difficulties in assessing the impact of ESI funds in Wales, particularly in...
Conclusion
We acknowledge the difficulties in assessing the impact of ESI funds in Wales, particularly in the absence of the counterfactual question of what would have happened without them. However, it is clear that while certain sectors, particularly higher education, the …
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Government Response Summary
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.
Wales Office
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8
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 67
Despite the positive feedback we have received about the performance of the Welsh European Funding...
Conclusion
Despite the positive feedback we have received about the performance of the Welsh European Funding Office in administering ESI funds, it is clear that for many respondents the current system of structural funding has been too centralised and overly bureaucratic. …
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Government Response Summary
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.
Wales Office
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9
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Para 68
If the Shared Prosperity Fund is to offer a more open and responsive system of...
Recommendation
If the Shared Prosperity Fund is to offer a more open and responsive system of funding, the UK Government and Welsh Governments should learn the lessons from how EU funds have been administered under the ESI schemes, including the criticisms …
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Government Response Summary
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.
Wales Office
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10
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Despite repeated assurances from UK Government that it would respect the devolution settlements of Wales,...
Conclusion
Despite repeated assurances from UK Government that it would respect the devolution settlements of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, there are considerable ambiguities about where power will lie in relation to the Shared Prosperity Fund. It is unclear whether, as …
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Government Response Summary
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.
Wales Office
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12
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Para 75
The UK Government should work with the devolved administrations and local government to develop a...
Recommendation
The UK Government should work with the devolved administrations and local government to develop a memorandum of understanding that will underpin the operation of the Shared Prosperity Fund, this memorandum should be built around a partnership approach and provide a …
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Government Response Summary
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.
Wales Office
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17
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 85
The impact of EU funding is hard to measure, and it is quite possible that...
Conclusion
The impact of EU funding is hard to measure, and it is quite possible that Wales would have been significantly worse off without it. However, this funding has not been a catalyst for a transformation in the fortunes of the Welsh economy.
Government Response Summary
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.
Wales Office
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