European Social Fund

(asked on 26th February 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department plans to publish its mid-term review of the European Social Fund Operational Programme.


Answered by
Alok Sharma Portrait
Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
This question was answered on 7th March 2018

England’s Managing Authority (MA) for the European Social Fund (ESF) has conducted a ‘mid-term review’ of the ESF England Operational Programme (OP) to ensure it is fit for purpose going forward. The review notably focused on strategic objectives, lessons learned, and maximising value for money. The MA is now implementing these changes in conjunction with the European Commission (EC) through a two-stage approach. Any amended elements of the revised OP are subject to the Commission's approval under Article 96(10) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 and we are unable to publish amendments until we have received the formal adoption notification.

The first phase of the review was concluded in December 2017 through the European Commission’s Implementing Decision C(2017) 8861. We will be finalising the second phase of the review over the coming months and anticipate publishing the refreshed OP (reflecting both stages) in the spring, subject to EC approval timelines.

ESF is a devolved matter for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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