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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether official in his department have held discussions with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive's Department for the Economy to help ensure that the Shared Prosperity Fund aligns with its Skills Strategy.

The UK Government engaged with departments across the Northern Ireland Executive on the design of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) ahead of publishing the Fund’s Prospectus on 13 April. In particular, officials in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities have engaged with departments across the Northern Ireland Executive so the UK Government can develop a list of interventions aligned to each of the three UKSPF investment priorities.

The UK Government will take a role in convening partners from across Northern Ireland to develop the UKSPF Investment Plan. We will refine the plan in consultation with stakeholders in a way that reflects the needs of Northern Ireland’s economy and society. This group could include representatives from Northern Ireland Executive Departments, local authorities, businesses and the community and voluntary sector.

As set out in the annex to the Prospectus on interventions in Northern Ireland, relevant plans and strategies in Northern Ireland will be considered as the UKSPF plan for Northern Ireland is developed, including, but not limited to, the draft Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland.