Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission about the capacity of local enterprise partnerships to deliver the European Structural and Investment Funds Operational Programmes for 2014-20 in England; and if he will make a statement.

The European Structural and Investment Funds programmes 2014-20 are an important part of the Government’s long-term economic plan to boost local growth and create jobs across England. Officials from the Managing Authorities for the various European Structural and Investment Funds Programmes and from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills are in close contact with the European Commission on an ongoing basis about the development and set up of the 2014-20 programmes in England. The partnership approach we are using for the programmes gives a strong and active advisory role to Local Enterprise Partnerships and to other local partners. At the same time, the Managing Authorities will shoulder the administrative burdens and financial risks involved in running the programmes.