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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans he has to consult (a) organisations which deliver European Social Fund programmes, and (ii) other organisations on a prospectus for the Shared Prosperity Fund.

The Fund’s interventions will be planned and delivered by local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales, working closely with local partners. In Northern Ireland, UK Government will have oversight of the Fund. Places will be empowered to identify and build on their own strengths and needs at a local level.

Throughout the UK, access to local insight and expertise is essential for each place to identify and address need and opportunity, and respond with the right solutions for each place

The Government has been engaging with key stakeholders on the design and priorities of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund since 2016, including holding a series of regional engagement events across the UK.

Since the publication of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Heads of Terms at Spending Review 2020, officials have engaged widely on the UKSPF, across a wide range of sectors and organisations. We will continue to engage stakeholders as we develop the full Prospectus ahead of launch further in Spring 2022.