Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the commitment in the Shared Prosperity Fund pre-launch guidance to maintain flexibility to fund voluntary sector organisations delivering locally important people and skills provision, where this is at risk due to the tail off of EU funds, what funding his Department has allocated to fulfil that commitment; and over what period.

In England, the Fund will focus on communities and place and local business interventions to boost pride in place in 2022-23 and 2023-24, alongside support for people through the Multiply adult numeracy programme. In addition, we will maintain the flexibility to fund voluntary sector organisations delivering locally important people and skills provision, where this is at risk due to the tail off of EU funds. Further investment to support people and skills will follow from 2024-25, when the funding pot reaches its full extent.

The Government will publish a full Prospectus with further detail on the fund later in Spring.