Oral Answers to Questions

Thangam Debbonaire Excerpts

Monday 28th November 2016 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Thangam Debbonaire (Bristol West) (Lab)]

1. What the Government's policy is on the replacement of EU funding to community groups after the UK leaves the EU.

[The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Sajid Javid)]

The Government have guaranteed support for projects that have signed agreements for EU funding. This guarantee applies even when those projects continue beyond EU exit. We are considering future arrangements regarding domestic support for local growth.

[Thangam Debbonaire]

A key aim of European funding for community groups is to promote skills and employment. Last week’s autumn statement appeared to have no long-term strategy for investment in skills and employment. Given how important this is for the UK to compete globally post-Brexit, does the Secretary of State agree that this shows yet again that the Government simply have no plan for Brexit?

[Sajid Javid]

I completely disagree. I have noted that the hon. Lady’s constituency has seen a 49% fall in unemployment since 2010, and I hope that she would welcome that. What we saw in the autumn statement were further measures to keep the strength in our economy, including the announcement of regional allocations of a local growth fund—it will apply to the hon. Lady’s area—that will go on to generate both growth and jobs.