Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Wales Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Wayne David Excerpts
Wednesday 3rd February 2021

(3 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jonathan Edwards Portrait Jonathan Edwards (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) (Ind)
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What recent discussions he has had with (a) the Welsh Government and (b) Cabinet colleagues on the UK shared prosperity fund.

Wayne David Portrait Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab)
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What recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of Wales on the UK shared prosperity fund.

David T C Davies Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (David T. C. Davies)
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My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with the First Minister and Welsh Ministers on a range of issues, including the UK shared prosperity fund. The Government will continue to engage with the Welsh Government as we develop the fund’s investment framework for publication.

David T C Davies Portrait David T. C. Davies
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The figures will show that on average Wales is receiving £375 million a year. What the hon. Gentleman may be referring to is the fact that over a number of years to follow there will still be some money coming to Wales from the European Union. Of course, it is absolutely right that that money should be counted towards the £375 million total, and the Government will guarantee to ensure that the amount of money to be spent in Wales in future will be exactly the same, or higher, than the amount that was spent previously.

Wayne David Portrait Wayne David [V]
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Britain has left the European Union. The transition period has come to an end. There is no new money coming from the structural funds. Given that the Government announced the shared prosperity fund back in 2017, can the Minister at least tell us the timetable for the introduction of the new fund?

David T C Davies Portrait David T. C. Davies
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We have already made it very clear and demonstrated that the amount of money that is going to be spent in Wales when the SPF comes in will be identical to or higher than the amount of money that was spent in Wales that came from the European Union. There has been absolutely no secrecy about that. The way in which the fund will be managed is subject to discussions at this very moment, and I would expect full details to be publicised over the next few months.