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 Answer of 3 March 2021 to Question 159322 on UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), what steps he is taking to ensure that UKSPF funding in Northern Ireland will at least match previous receipts from EU structural funds in each of the next five years.

The department followed the published assessment criteria in taking selection decisions and ensured allocation of funding to a suitable mix of projects to address all geographies and range of needs. Unsuccessful bidders will receive feedback on their bid in due course and my officials can further discuss the reasons why bids were unsuccessful where appropriate.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations for 2022-23 to 2024-25 have been published. We are ensuring that domestic UK-wide funding will at least match EU receipts across the UK, reaching around £1.5 billion a year in 2024-25 when EU funding ceases, while also providing for a smooth transition onto the new, domestic regime. Funding for 2025 onwards is a matter for the Spending Review in 2024.