Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will ensure funding is made available to support economically inactive beneficiaries in Northern Ireland into employment after the end of UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund was extended at Autumn Budget 2024 at a level of £902m, providing support for local areas, including economic inactivity support in Northern Ireland. In 2025 – 2026, Northern Ireland was allocated £45.48 million under the UKSPF, of which £25.8m is expected to be spent on economic inactivity support. Further decisions on local growth funding are a matter for the Spending Review.

Wider employment support is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.