Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to replace funding from the European Social Fund committed to employment support initiatives after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.

The Government has confirmed that it will guarantee EU funding for structural and investment fund projects signed before the UK’s departure from the EU, even when these projects continue after we have left the EU.

As a result, British businesses and other organisations have additional certainty over future funding and should continue to apply for EU funding while the UK remains a member of the EU. There is considerable stability in the ESF programme, with around half of the programme budget (approximately £1.3bn) already committed.

The Treasury announcement of 3 October 2016 provides us with a helpful degree of certainty in delivering the programme. Funding for projects will be honoured by the government, if they provide good value for money and are in line with domestic strategic priorities.

In the longer term we will want to consider the future of all programmes that are currently EU funded. Leaving means we will make our own decisions about how to deliver the policy objectives previously targeted by EU funding. Each government department will take responsibility for the allocation of money to projects in line with these conditions and the wider rules on public spending. The full detail of the announcement can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-certainty-on-eu-funding-for-hundreds-of-british-projects