Asked by: Stephen Farry (Alliance - North Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many bids to Shared Prosperity Fund economic inactivity allocation in Northern Ireland were unsuccessful; and what their total value is.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
The department received 42 applications. 18 bidders and approximately 80 partners will receive over £57.5m in UK Shared Prosperity Fund support. 24 applications were unsuccessful. £30.5m of applications were not funded in full or in part.
The selection criteria were published on gov.uk. This allowed for ministerial discretion to (a) ensure a reasonable thematic split of projects and (b) a balanced geographic spread of projects. After considering the highest scoring bids, our decision to allocate additional funding allowed us to support a suitable mix of projects to address all geographies and a range of needs.
All eighteen funded projects will support economically inactive women, and many projects have identified women as a priority cohort. Many organisations that have a strong focus on women have been successful as a lead bidder or a project partner, including Women's Training, Education, and Childcare’s £872k Building Futures project, and Women's Resource and Development Agency's £1.27m Scaling Up Women's Training, Education & Employment Skills project.
While engagement is affected by the lack of a functioning Executive, my department has a productive dialogue with the Northern Ireland Departments. Northern Ireland Arm's Length Bodies were successful in the economic inactivity competition. My officials are also engaging with the Department for the Economy and its Arm's Length Bodies on delivering other aspects of the fund.
This collaborative approach has been well received by the departments, who have written to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee in this regard.
Asked by: Stephen Farry (Alliance - North Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, on what basis Ministers may decide to vary the ranked order of bids for funding to tackle economic inactivity in Northern Ireland through the Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
The criteria for the selection of projects to address economic inactivity was set out in the competition documents and the assessment criteria was also published.
Asked by: Stephen Farry (Alliance - North Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the threshold criteria for capital funding for arts and culture projects in Northern Ireland under the Community Ownership Fund in the context of the size of that sector relative to its counterpart in Great Britain.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Applications to the Community Ownership Fund (COF) are assessed against a fair and transparent framework that is publicly available on gov.uk. The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities can exercise discretion when making funding decisions on shortlisted bids to ensure, where possible, a balanced spread of projects across all parts of the United Kingdom.
All applicants are required to demonstrate how the benefits of the community asset will address community need in their local place. Applicants must evidence the work undertaken with the community to understand the potential uses of the asset and how the community would benefit, including references to other local activities and plans in the area and how the proposal fits within these. Projects which make the strongest case for community benefit will be shortlisted for funding.
Unsuccessful applicants are provided with feedback on where their application has failed against the assessment criteria as set out on gov.uk. This process is consistent for all applications.
We consider applications from voluntary and community organisations from all parts of the United Kingdom which have a viable plan for taking ownership of a community asset at risk and running it sustainably for community benefit. The fund supports a broad range of asset types and the nature and purpose of the asset are varied.
So far, at least 43% of projects in Northern Ireland are helping to promote arts and culture in their local community, among many other wider benefits. For example, through their Aurora project, the St Columbs Hall Trust aim to advance arts, culture and heritage in their community, and advance education by providing training arts facilities. A significant number of COF projects also have a creative element to their project and support the arts.
Asked by: Stephen Farry (Alliance - North Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has issued guidance on the allocation of Community Ownership Fund resources to more than one project in a similar geographical area.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Applications to the Community Ownership Fund (COF) are assessed against a fair and transparent framework that is publicly available on gov.uk. The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities can exercise discretion when making funding decisions on shortlisted bids to ensure, where possible, a balanced spread of projects across all parts of the United Kingdom.
All applicants are required to demonstrate how the benefits of the community asset will address community need in their local place. Applicants must evidence the work undertaken with the community to understand the potential uses of the asset and how the community would benefit, including references to other local activities and plans in the area and how the proposal fits within these. Projects which make the strongest case for community benefit will be shortlisted for funding.
Unsuccessful applicants are provided with feedback on where their application has failed against the assessment criteria as set out on gov.uk. This process is consistent for all applications.
We consider applications from voluntary and community organisations from all parts of the United Kingdom which have a viable plan for taking ownership of a community asset at risk and running it sustainably for community benefit. The fund supports a broad range of asset types and the nature and purpose of the asset are varied.
So far, at least 43% of projects in Northern Ireland are helping to promote arts and culture in their local community, among many other wider benefits. For example, through their Aurora project, the St Columbs Hall Trust aim to advance arts, culture and heritage in their community, and advance education by providing training arts facilities. A significant number of COF projects also have a creative element to their project and support the arts.
Asked by: Stephen Farry (Alliance - North Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make it his policy to provide unsuccessful applicants to the Community Ownership Fund in Northern Ireland feedback on their application.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Applications to the Community Ownership Fund (COF) are assessed against a fair and transparent framework that is publicly available on gov.uk. The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities can exercise discretion when making funding decisions on shortlisted bids to ensure, where possible, a balanced spread of projects across all parts of the United Kingdom.
All applicants are required to demonstrate how the benefits of the community asset will address community need in their local place. Applicants must evidence the work undertaken with the community to understand the potential uses of the asset and how the community would benefit, including references to other local activities and plans in the area and how the proposal fits within these. Projects which make the strongest case for community benefit will be shortlisted for funding.
Unsuccessful applicants are provided with feedback on where their application has failed against the assessment criteria as set out on gov.uk. This process is consistent for all applications.
We consider applications from voluntary and community organisations from all parts of the United Kingdom which have a viable plan for taking ownership of a community asset at risk and running it sustainably for community benefit. The fund supports a broad range of asset types and the nature and purpose of the asset are varied.
So far, at least 43% of projects in Northern Ireland are helping to promote arts and culture in their local community, among many other wider benefits. For example, through their Aurora project, the St Columbs Hall Trust aim to advance arts, culture and heritage in their community, and advance education by providing training arts facilities. A significant number of COF projects also have a creative element to their project and support the arts.
Asked by: Stephen Farry (Alliance - North Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what level of feedback is normally given to unsuccessful applicants to the Community Ownership Fund in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Applications to the Community Ownership Fund (COF) are assessed against a fair and transparent framework that is publicly available on gov.uk. The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities can exercise discretion when making funding decisions on shortlisted bids to ensure, where possible, a balanced spread of projects across all parts of the United Kingdom.
All applicants are required to demonstrate how the benefits of the community asset will address community need in their local place. Applicants must evidence the work undertaken with the community to understand the potential uses of the asset and how the community would benefit, including references to other local activities and plans in the area and how the proposal fits within these. Projects which make the strongest case for community benefit will be shortlisted for funding.
Unsuccessful applicants are provided with feedback on where their application has failed against the assessment criteria as set out on gov.uk. This process is consistent for all applications.
We consider applications from voluntary and community organisations from all parts of the United Kingdom which have a viable plan for taking ownership of a community asset at risk and running it sustainably for community benefit. The fund supports a broad range of asset types and the nature and purpose of the asset are varied.
So far, at least 43% of projects in Northern Ireland are helping to promote arts and culture in their local community, among many other wider benefits. For example, through their Aurora project, the St Columbs Hall Trust aim to advance arts, culture and heritage in their community, and advance education by providing training arts facilities. A significant number of COF projects also have a creative element to their project and support the arts.
Asked by: Stephen Farry (Alliance - North Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many bids have been submitted to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund economic inactivity competition in Northern Ireland; and what the value of those bids is.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
The department has received a strong and positive response to the Economic Inactivity competition. I recognise the need for this important funding to be in place promptly as the European Social Fund support draws to a close in Northern Ireland. My officials have already commenced the assessment work for applications received. While ensuring that the assessment process is robust, we will complete this work at pace so that applicants are notified of the outcome as soon as we are able.
Asked by: Stephen Farry (Alliance - North Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to announce the results of UK Shared Prosperity Fund Economic Inactivity Competition in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
The department has received a strong and positive response to the Economic Inactivity competition. I recognise the need for this important funding to be in place promptly as the European Social Fund support draws to a close in Northern Ireland. My officials have already commenced the assessment work for applications received. While ensuring that the assessment process is robust, we will complete this work at pace so that applicants are notified of the outcome as soon as we are able.
Asked by: Stephen Farry (Alliance - North Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether the £500 support payment for Homes for Ukraine hosts will be provided to people in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
In recognition of their ongoing support amidst the rising cost-of-living, all UK sponsors are eligible for a current optional 'thank you payment' of £350 per month, whilst the Homes for Ukraine guest remains in their accommodation, for up to 12 months. Sponsors will receive an increased 'thank you' payment of £500 a month for guests who have been in the country for over a year
'Thank you' payments will also be extended from 12 months to two years, so that guests who may not yet be ready to move into independent accommodation can stay in sponsorship for longer where sponsors are willing to extend arrangements.
Asked by: Stephen Farry (Alliance - North Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the impact of the requirement that applications to the Shared Prosperity Fund from organisations based in Northern Ireland demonstrate compliance with State Aid requirements on the volume of applications to that fund from such organisations.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) recognises the importance of meeting its legal obligations and giving due regard to the additional equalities considerations that apply in Northern Ireland.
It is also DLUHC's responsibility to ensure that selected projects are state aid or subsidy control compliant.
The department's proposed delivery approaches for this priority are via councils and competitions for experienced deliverers of business support, who we anticipate will have sufficient expertise to provide credible applications taking account of state aid and subsidy control.