Scotland demands answers over UK Shared Prosperity Fund

The Scottish Government has called for an urgent meeting with Whitehall counterparts over the eagerly awaited UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF).

The Scottish investment minister Ivan McKee said a meeting to discuss the fund last month with local government minister Luke Hall in London was cancelled and now he has been told it will not take place until after the UK Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is due to replace the various streams of EU regeneration cash after Brexit.

It was first announced by the Conservatives in their 2017 general election manifesto, but details remain scant about how the fund will work or how much money will be allocated to it.

Last week, the Industrial Communities Alliance wrote to the communities secretary, Robert Jenrick to express their concern about lack of progress on fund,

Mr McKee has written to Mr Hall, asking that their meeting is reinstated as a matter of urgency.

‘To keep the Scottish Government and the other devolved nations at arm’s length during the development of their replacement – which will play an important role in our economic recovery from Covid-19 – is both counterproductive and potentially detrimental to the future success of the fund,’ said Mr McKee.

‘We have been clear throughout that all future replacement funding should be fully devolved so that the Scottish Government can target it in a way that meets the specific needs of Scotland’s people, businesses and communities.

‘To do otherwise would be to ignore both the spirit and day-to-day realities of devolution. The UK government would be taking back control from Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, not Brussels.’

In response, a UK government spokesperson said: ‘We welcome the Scottish Government’s enthusiasm to work with us on the UK’s SPF, which will mean UK Government investment across Scotland. This is in sharp contrast to their refusal to work with us the Union Connectivity Review, their objection to UK-wide spending powers in the UKIM Bill and their reluctance to discuss a Freeport for Scotland.

‘We continue to work closely with all interested parties across the UK whilst developing the SPF.’

Photo Credit – Misterfarmer (Pixabay)