Finance and Public Administration Committee
Replacing EU Structural Funds in Scotland
Background
The Committee has started to scrutinise what funding will replace EU Structural Funds in Scotland.
When the United Kingdom (UK) was part of the European Union (EU), the UK received funding to reduce economic inequality from EU structural funds (EUSF).
Under the EU’s 2014-2020 budget, Scotland was allocated up to €944 million in structural funding.
During this time, the Scottish Government played a key role in directing where funding in Scotland was spent. Under EU rules, EU funds needed to be matched by equal money from the Scottish budget.
Replacing EU funds, post-Brexit
After leaving the EU, the UK Government has said it will:
- at least match these EU funds “through the new UK Shared Prosperity Fund on average reaching around £1.5 billion a year” starting from April 2022;
- make available across the UK between March 2020 and March 2021, funding of £220 million in a Community Renewal Fund;
- provide £4 billion for a “levelling up” fund for England with £800 million set aside for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
How is this funding provided?
Money from the Levelling up Fund is now available to bid for across the UK. In Scotland, it is Local Authorities that can bid for and lead on delivery of this fund.
In Scotland, it is also Local Authorities that can bid for funding from the Community Renewal Fund.
These new funds represent a potentially significant amount of money to be spent in Scotland, that is not provided through the usual Scottish Government budget process.
Views from Scottish Local Authorities
The Finance and Public Administration Committee has therefore agreed to start its work by seeking views from Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Local Authorities’ Economic Development (SLAED) Group on these funds.
SPICe Summary of Written Submissions
The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) has produced a summary of the written submissions received:
SPICe Summary of Written Submissions
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Oral Evidence
The Committee took evidence on the following dates:
Thursday 24 February 2022
The Committee took evidence from:
Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, UK Government.
Read the agenda, papers and Official Report (substantially verbatim transcript) of this meeting
Written Submissions
Written Submissions - 2023
The following responses from local authorities and organisations were received to the Committee's invitation in 2023 to submit views:
Written Submission from Clackmannanshire Council
Written Submission from East Ayrshire Council
Written Submission from East Lothian Council
Written Submission from Glasgow City Council
Written Submission from Glasgow City Region
Written Submission from North Lanarkshire Council
Written Submission from Renfrewshire Council
Written Submission from the Scottish Local Authorities Economic Development Group (SLAED)
Written Submission from South Ayrshire Council
Written Submission from South Lanarkshire Council
Written Submission from Stirling Council
Written Submission from the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth
Written Submissions - 2022
The following responses from local authorities and organisations were received to the Committee's invitation in 2022 to submit views:
Written Submission from Angus Council
Written Submission from Argyll and Bute Council
Written Submission from Clackmannanshire Council
Written Submission from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Written Submission from East Ayrshire Council
Written Submission from East Lothian Council
Written Submission from Falkirk Council
Written Submission from Fife Council
Written Submission from Glasgow City Council
Written Submission from Highland Council
Written Submission from North Lanarkshire Council
Written Submission from Renfrewshire Council
Written Submission from Scottish Local Authorities Economic Development Group (SLAED)
Written Submission from Shetland Islands Council
Written Submission from South Lanarkshire Council