Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans to develop a system of regional funding as a long-term replacement for the European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund.

The government has provided a guarantee for all European Structural and Investment Fund projects signed before the Autumn Statement. The government has also provided a guarantee for all projects signed after the Autumn Statement and before the UK’s departure from the European Union, if they provide good value for money and are in line with domestic strategic priorities. The government has not made a forecast of funding allocations for the 2021 to 2027 programme period. For the 2014-2020 programme period Liverpool City Region has received a European Social and Investment Fund allocation of €221.9m. Officials are beginning the longer-term work of considering how best to support our regions following the UK’s departure from the European Union.