Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reasons the 2025-26 allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund wasn't an open competition.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My officials meet regularly with representatives of the voluntary and community sector and local authorities through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Northern Ireland Partnership Group, as well as officials from the Northern Ireland Executive Departments of Finance, Economy and Communities, to seek views and insight on funding allocation, local priorities and alignment with other provision and policies in Northern Ireland.

I met with Northern Ireland Executive ministers to discuss the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and with the Northern Ireland Partnership Group and project deliverers to hear first-hand the impact that the fund is having on people and communities across Northern Ireland.

Taking account of partner feedback and to avoid a hiatus in delivery of support for people and businesses, my department determined the most appropriate approach to funding for 2025-26 was to invite continuation applications. This has avoided a significant delay in delivery that new funding competitions would have created.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund project information for Northern Ireland is published on gov.uk. This will be updated for 2025-26 funding allocations following the conclusion of the selection process.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a breakdown of how the UK Shared Prosperity Fund has been allocated in Northern Ireland for financial year 2025-26 including spending by (a) sector, (b) region and (c) projects.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My officials meet regularly with representatives of the voluntary and community sector and local authorities through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Northern Ireland Partnership Group, as well as officials from the Northern Ireland Executive Departments of Finance, Economy and Communities, to seek views and insight on funding allocation, local priorities and alignment with other provision and policies in Northern Ireland.

I met with Northern Ireland Executive ministers to discuss the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and with the Northern Ireland Partnership Group and project deliverers to hear first-hand the impact that the fund is having on people and communities across Northern Ireland.

Taking account of partner feedback and to avoid a hiatus in delivery of support for people and businesses, my department determined the most appropriate approach to funding for 2025-26 was to invite continuation applications. This has avoided a significant delay in delivery that new funding competitions would have created.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund project information for Northern Ireland is published on gov.uk. This will be updated for 2025-26 funding allocations following the conclusion of the selection process.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what engagement she has had with (a) community groups, (b) local authorities and (c) the Northern Ireland Executive on the reallocation of (a) UK Shared Prosperity Fund and (b) skills funding in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My officials meet regularly with representatives of the voluntary and community sector and local authorities through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Northern Ireland Partnership Group, as well as officials from the Northern Ireland Executive Departments of Finance, Economy and Communities, to seek views and insight on funding allocation, local priorities and alignment with other provision and policies in Northern Ireland.

I met with Northern Ireland Executive ministers to discuss the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and with the Northern Ireland Partnership Group and project deliverers to hear first-hand the impact that the fund is having on people and communities across Northern Ireland.

Taking account of partner feedback and to avoid a hiatus in delivery of support for people and businesses, my department determined the most appropriate approach to funding for 2025-26 was to invite continuation applications. This has avoided a significant delay in delivery that new funding competitions would have created.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund project information for Northern Ireland is published on gov.uk. This will be updated for 2025-26 funding allocations following the conclusion of the selection process.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what allocations they have made to date from the £30 million set aside for Northern Ireland in round 3 of the Levelling Up Fund.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Community Renewal Fund is now closed. Details of the 31 projects funded by the Community Renewal Fund in Northern Ireland are available at: UK Community Renewal Fund: successful and unsuccessful bids - GOV.UK. Please note Extern Works North West project withdrew and did not receive funding.

On 8 March 2024 the previous administration confirmed that the £30 million reserved for Northern Ireland as part of round 3 of the Levelling Up Fund formed part of the UK Government’s financial package for the restored Northern Ireland Executive, increasing the spending power available to the Executive and allowing it to invest against its own priorities.

The Department will continue to work closely with projects and places in Northern Ireland that were awarded a total of £120 million across the first two rounds of the fund.

My Department works collaboratively with strategic and delivery partners and Northern Ireland Executive departments to ensure that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme is investing in local needs and priorities. We have supported 43 impactful projects to date in Northern Ireland, kickstarting economic growth and breaking down barriers to opportunity through a range of investments detailed at this link : UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern Ireland project information - GOV.UK.

Local council-led projects funded under the communities and place strand of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund are set out below:

1. COMMUNITIES & PLACE

• Green Spaces Projects 2022-2023

• Communities & Place Locally Determined Projects 2024-2025

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government which projects in Northern Ireland have so far received funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Community Renewal Fund is now closed. Details of the 31 projects funded by the Community Renewal Fund in Northern Ireland are available at: UK Community Renewal Fund: successful and unsuccessful bids - GOV.UK. Please note Extern Works North West project withdrew and did not receive funding.

On 8 March 2024 the previous administration confirmed that the £30 million reserved for Northern Ireland as part of round 3 of the Levelling Up Fund formed part of the UK Government’s financial package for the restored Northern Ireland Executive, increasing the spending power available to the Executive and allowing it to invest against its own priorities.

The Department will continue to work closely with projects and places in Northern Ireland that were awarded a total of £120 million across the first two rounds of the fund.

My Department works collaboratively with strategic and delivery partners and Northern Ireland Executive departments to ensure that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme is investing in local needs and priorities. We have supported 43 impactful projects to date in Northern Ireland, kickstarting economic growth and breaking down barriers to opportunity through a range of investments detailed at this link : UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern Ireland project information - GOV.UK.

Local council-led projects funded under the communities and place strand of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund are set out below:

1. COMMUNITIES & PLACE

• Green Spaces Projects 2022-2023

• Communities & Place Locally Determined Projects 2024-2025

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government which organisations in Northern Ireland have benefited from the £12 million of investment under the Community Renewal Fund.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Community Renewal Fund is now closed. Details of the 31 projects funded by the Community Renewal Fund in Northern Ireland are available at: UK Community Renewal Fund: successful and unsuccessful bids - GOV.UK. Please note Extern Works North West project withdrew and did not receive funding.

On 8 March 2024 the previous administration confirmed that the £30 million reserved for Northern Ireland as part of round 3 of the Levelling Up Fund formed part of the UK Government’s financial package for the restored Northern Ireland Executive, increasing the spending power available to the Executive and allowing it to invest against its own priorities.

The Department will continue to work closely with projects and places in Northern Ireland that were awarded a total of £120 million across the first two rounds of the fund.

My Department works collaboratively with strategic and delivery partners and Northern Ireland Executive departments to ensure that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme is investing in local needs and priorities. We have supported 43 impactful projects to date in Northern Ireland, kickstarting economic growth and breaking down barriers to opportunity through a range of investments detailed at this link : UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern Ireland project information - GOV.UK.

Local council-led projects funded under the communities and place strand of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund are set out below:

1. COMMUNITIES & PLACE

• Green Spaces Projects 2022-2023

• Communities & Place Locally Determined Projects 2024-2025

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding her Department plans to provide through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to projects in Northern Ireland in the 2024-25 financial year; and if she will take steps to ensure that further allocations are used to help tackle economic inactivity.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides £67.5 million for projects in Northern Ireland this financial year.

The Autumn Budget announced that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, for which the previous government made no plans beyond March 2025, will be extended for 2025-26 at a reduced level of £900 million.

With this transitional arrangement, Northern Ireland will continue to benefit from investment next year in local growth, providing certainty of funding in advance of wider local growth funding reforms. This will provide the flexibility to deliver the most important local projects for Northern Ireland, including projects helping those at risk of being left behind.

My department will update the fund prospectus and confirm the Northern Ireland funding allocation for 2025-26 as soon as possible.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to make changes to funding levels of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Autumn Budget announced that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, for which the previous government made no plans beyond March 2025, will be extended for 2025-26 at a reduced level of £900 million.

With this transitional arrangement, Northern Ireland will continue to benefit from investment next year in local growth, providing certainty of funding in advance of wider local growth funding reforms.

My department will update the fund prospectus and confirm the Northern Ireland funding allocation for 2025-26 as soon as possible.

Found: UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern Ireland project information

Found: additional information UK Shared Prosperity Fund: outputs and outcomes definitions (2) UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern Ireland

Found: UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern Ireland Partnership Group minutes

Found: UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern Ireland Partnership Group minutes

Found: UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern Ireland Partnership Group minutes

Found: UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern Ireland Partnership Group minutes

Found: UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern Ireland Partnership Group minutes

Found: UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern Ireland Partnership Group minutes

Found: UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern Ireland Partnership Group minutes

Found: UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern Ireland Partnership Group minutes

Found: UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern Ireland Partnership Group minutes

Found: UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern Ireland Partnership Group minutes

Found: UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern Ireland Partnership Group minutes