Tell us where the money’s coming from
MP’s fears over vital EU replacement funds
An MP has demanded Tory ministers come clean over the future of European funds worth hundreds of millions of pounds to Scotland.
The European Structural and Investment Funds ( ESIF) have supported dozens of projects which tackle poverty and promote social inclusion over the last five years.
But it remains unclear how the UK Government plan to replace the scheme post-Brexit, despite promises of a consultation last year.
SNP MP Drew Hendry said: “It’s outrageous that, two- and- a- half months before Brexit, details of vital future funding are yet to come to fruition.
“The European Structural and Investment Funds have allowed the Scottish Government to directly tackle key issues such as improving infrastructure and addressing unemployment across Scotland.
“To replace this with a system cent ra l ised in Westminster would be utterly unacceptable. It’s yet another sign of a Tory Brexit power grab a ga ins t the devolved governments. As the Tories take us ever closer towards the Brexit cliffedge, the UK Government must give immediate clarity on their plans and give a cast- iron guarantee that control over funding post- Brexit remains with Holyrood.” Hendry has also written to Tory Communities Minister James Brokenshire to demand answers. Hundreds of projects across Scotland benef it from EU structural money, including businesses and research projects through the European Regional Development Fund and deprived areas through the European Social Fund. A total of £379million has been invested in 188 projects since 2014.
Scotland has also benefited from science funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 scheme, as well as money from other EU sources including Common Agricultural Policy funding for farmers.
The cash pots are created from a budget which includes the money the UK has paid into the EU each year up until now.
Projects given huge grants include the Scottish Funding Council’s Youth Employment Initiative, which received £27,954,619.
The UK Government announced a successor to ESIF – dubbed the UK Shared Prosperity Fund – last year.
A spokesman said: “We recognise the importance of reassuring communities on the future of local growth funding. We have continued to make great progress on the design of the UKSPF, ahead of consultation.”
But Anna Fowlie, of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, has previously criticised the UK Government on the issue.
She said: “Their track record suggests they are more interested in England’s priorities.”