Asked by: Baroness Pinnock (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will allocate any resources in the European Social Fund that remain unallocated by the end of the fund period in 2020; and if so, where such funding will be allocated.
Answered by Baroness Buscombe
The Draft Withdrawal Agreement, as of March 2018, reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to participate in all EU programmes financed by the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-2020 until their closure, subject to a negotiated withdrawal. The agreement means that, subject to final agreement, the UK will remain in the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds (including the European Social Fund) until programme closure, with funding agreed by end of the framework able to run through to the end of 2023.
At the mid-point of the programme we have spent funding on various positive activities that target inequality and support some of the hardest to help and most vulnerable people in society develop new skills and move towards, and into, work. This includes HMPPS’ co-financed projects that help offenders and ex-offenders access employment services assisting them to gain employment; Big Lottery co-financed projects that tackle poverty and promote social inclusion; and projects that enable people to engage successfully with programmes such as Traineeships and the Work and Health Programme.
To ensure that we make full use of available funds, we are developing an approach for any notional allocations which remain uncommitted or for which there are no firm plans, to be brought together towards the end of 2019. This approach will notably enable further funding to be committed in those areas which have the greatest demand. We will continue to work with our partners over the coming years to make the most effective and efficient use of available funding.