Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions her Department has had with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on employment and skills support to be provided through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The government’s manifesto committed to replace European structural funds with a UK Shared Prosperity Fund, a proportion of which will be targeted to ensure disadvantaged people gain the skills they need to make a success of life. We are continuing to work with government departments – including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the design and priorities of the new fund.