Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what decisions they have made regarding the replacement of EU grant schemes under the EU Social Fund if the UK leaves the EU in 2019.

The Government has guaranteed funding for all Structural Fund projects, including European Social Fund (ESF) projects, that would have been funded by the EU under the 2014-2020 programme period. This means that the Department of Work and Pensions, the devolved administrations and HM Government of Gibraltar will continue to fund existing and new ESF projects after Brexit until programme closure.

The Government recognises the importance of providing areas with certainty over future funding when the current round of Structural Funds comes to an end and has committed to bring forward plans on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and to consult on the fund.