Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will amend the Operational Guidance issued to local enterprise partnerships in September 2014 on the allocation of European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), to indicate that ESIF and resources should be used to support greater access to adult education, skills training and the labour market for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller groups.

There are separate ESIF Operational Programmes in place for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF) in England and the emphasis for both programmes for the 2014-2020 programme is to ensure funds support local growth. Funds are allocated to Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas to increase impact of other local public and private investments, such as the Local Growth Fund.

The ESF Operational Programme issued in September 2015, deliberately does not refer to the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community as a specific target group. ESF operates on a principle of equality and inclusion and it is not considered appropriate to set aside allocations for specific groups on the grounds of ethnic origin, religion, gender or disability.

LEPs have put forward plans/approaches to deliver against the themes of the ESF Operational Programme. Members of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community could benefit from support across the different priorities, and Investment Priority 1.4 in particular includes the facility to support marginalised individuals and people with complex barriers.

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller groups have been encouraged to engage with LEPs with a view to ensuring they are included in local partnerships and have the opportunity to influence local calls and we are also in the process of writing to LEPs to encourage them to work closely with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller representatives.