Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of his Department providing additional support for disadvantaged people in Northern Ireland to access skills training funded under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will provide support for projects across Northern Ireland, focusing on people and skills, communities and place, and local business for the period 2022-23 to 2024-25.

The Department established the Northern Ireland UKSPF Partnership Group earlier this year to advise it as it develops an investment plan for the fund in Northern Ireland. It includes representatives from the voluntary and community sector, business, higher education and skills and local authorities, as well as the Northern Ireland Office. Alongside this, DLUHC has held workshops and engaged with over 150 representatives of the voluntary and community sector, as well as business organisations and local councils across Northern Ireland, many of whom deliver skills training and wider support for disadvantaged people and provide support for people with disabilities to find sustainable employment.

For the 'people and skills' investment priority, the Department recognises the need for continued support to reduce economic inactivity, as well as invest in basic and life skills in order to improve life chances in Northern Ireland, including for disadvantaged groups and disabled people. Alongside this, the fund will invest in supporting people to access adult numeracy support through Multiply.

The Department expects to conclude the Investment Plan shortly and will publish further information on funding opportunities in Northern Ireland later this year.