04.03.2019
The future of EU Structural Funding following Brexit is to be the subject of a new parliamentary inquiry at Holyrood, it has been announced.
The Finance & Constitution Committee is calling for views on how Scotland’s share of post-Brexit structural funding should be determined.
Between 2014 and 2020, up to €1 billion in European structural funding is allocated to Scotland under the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) programme. Also included in the Committee’s inquiry is LEADER funding which supports rural development.
After 2020, the UK Government proposes to fund structural fund priorities through a UK Shared Prosperity Fund, but the detail has yet to be set out.
The committee is calling for evidence to help inform its inquiry.
Finance & Constitution Committee Convener Bruce Crawford MSP said:
“The UK Government has proposed that it will replace European structural funding with a UK Shared Prosperity Fund, aimed at reducing inequalities between communities across the UK.
“It is not clear how this fund will operate. We therefore want to hear views about this fund and where responsibility for decisions about funding levels and allocation should be taken – at UK Government level, Scottish Government level, local government level or by local stakeholders?
“We want to know how the Structural fund priorities of promoting social inclusion, helping small businesses and reducing inequality in rural communities and urban areas across Scotland should be funded after Brexit.”
Mr Crawford added:
“Currently structural funds can contribute almost €1 billion towards supporting communities across Scotland. We are keen to hear from those who allocate and those who receive European Structural Funding on how any future funding streams should operate.”
The committee’s call for evidence includes key questions such as:
• how should Scotland’s share of post-Brexit structural funds be determined, and
• to what extent should the current systems and priorities for allocating structural funds be replicated post-Brexit.”
The full call for evidence can be found here.
The closing date for submissions is 25 April 2019.
Background information
Find the committee’s webpage and work programme here.