All projects funded by 2014-20 INTERREG programmes had to complete delivery by December 2023. The ongoing work by MHCLG officials covered in the answer to Question 19363 is focused on closure of these programmes. The INTERREG PEACEPLUS programme continues to operate between communities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, but MHCLG does not have a role in this programme.

MHCLG officials continue to work with 2014-20 INTERREG programmes as required to support the delivery and closure of INTERREG programmes, following the terms established in the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

UK-wide, funding for the UKSPF will ramp up to £1.5 billion per year by March 2025. Alongside commitments to support regional finance funds across the UK via the British Business Bank, this upholds the UK government’s commitment to match EU structural fund receipts for each nation.

UKSPF will not directly replace European Territorial Cooperation programmes. Each place has a range of economic and societal relationships with other places across the UK, including their neighbours and places with common needs and opportunities. Collaboration with other places across the UK will be welcomed in the delivery of the Fund where it meets the needs of their place and achieves value for money or better outcomes for the people or businesses the Fund will benefit.

Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement January 2020 it was agreed that the UK would remain in European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) programmes in the Multiannual Funding Framework (MFF) 2014-2020. This includes Interreg programmes also known as European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) programmes. Spending on these programmes will continue until December 2023 and after this they will be closed.

The UK will not be participating in ESIF programmes in the next MFF 2021-2027, including ETC programmes, except for the Peace Plus programme in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has policy responsibility for Peace Plus.

Interreg (or European Territorial Cooperation) programmes are not managed directly by DLUHC, but by independent Managing Authorities who are responsible for making payments to organisations acting as project partners.

A table is provided which outlines each Managing Authority supporting ongoing Interreg projects in Scotland, organised according to the select Interreg programmes that the UK Government has oversight on.

Managing Authorities (MAs) are responsible for the day-to-day delivery of Interreg, or European Territorial Cohesion, programmes. MAs are normally local or regional authorities based in one of the countries participating in the programme. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has insight on the programmes listed in the first column.

Interreg (or European Territorial Cooperation) programmes are not managed directly by the UK Government, but by independent Managing Authorities who are responsible for making payments to organisations acting as project partners. Each Managing Authority has a regulatory responsibility to publish details of the organisations in receipt of funding.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund will help to level up and create opportunity across the UK in places most in need, such as ex-industrial areas, deprived towns and rural and coastal communities, and for people who face labour market barriers.

This Government will ensure that the UK Government and its institutions are working effectively to realise the benefits of four nations working together as one United Kingdom.

Spending Review 2020 set out the main strategic elements of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in the Heads of Terms.  The Government will publish a UK-wide investment framework later this year and confirm its funding profile at the next Spending Review.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund will help to level up and create opportunity across the UK in places most in need, such as ex-industrial areas, deprived towns and rural and coastal communities, and for people who face labour market barriers.

This Government will ensure that the UK Government and its institutions are working effectively to realise the benefits of four nations working together as one United Kingdom.

Spending Review 2020 set out the main strategic elements of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in the Heads of Terms.  The Government will publish a UK-wide investment framework later this year and confirm its funding profile at the next Spending Review.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund will help to level up and create opportunity across the UK in places most in need, such as ex-industrial areas, deprived towns and rural and coastal communities, and for people who face labour market barriers.

This Government will ensure that the UK Government and its institutions are working effectively to realise the benefits of four nations working together as one United Kingdom.

Spending Review 2020 set out the main strategic elements of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in the Heads of Terms. This stated that UK Shared Prosperity investment should be aligned with the government's clean growth and net zero objectives. The Government will publish a UK-wide investment framework later this year and confirm its funding profile at the next Spending Review.

The future relationship we will have with the EU is being agreed through the formal negotiations between the Government and European Commission. It would be premature to speculate about the precise nature of that at this stage.

The Government has been clear that it wants to create a new era of cooperation and partnership between the UK and the EU. We are negotiating to secure a deal that works for every region in the country.

The Government will guarantee EU Structural and Investment fund projects signed before we leave the EU, even where these continue after we leave. Beyond these priorities, decisions on the replacement of EU funding will be taken in light of wider UK strategic priorities and other domestic spending decisions. As we transition to longer-term arrangements, we will ensure the devolved administrations are treated fairly and their circumstances are taken into account. The Government is committed to securing a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom - for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and all parts of England.

The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and I have regular discussions on a range of issues, as do officials from our respective departments.

There may be specific European programmes in which we might want to participate and if so, it will be reasonable that we make a contribution.

The Chancellor’s statement of 3 October 2016 explains that UK participants in European Structural and Investment Fund projects who have funding agreements signed after the Autumn Statement but before the UK leaves the EU will have their funding guaranteed, so long as they provide strong value for money and are in line with domestic strategic priorities. UK participants will not see a funding shortfall.

Leaving the EU means that we will want to decide how we deliver the policy objectives currently delivered by EU-funded programmes. We will consult closely with stakeholders to review all EU funding schemes in the round, to ensure that any on-going funding commitments best serve the UK‘s national interest, while ensuring appropriate investor certainty.

The source of ERDF funding is provided by the overall contributions made by each EU Member State. The United Kingdom currently makes a contribution to the EU, net of what it receives in return.

We have been clear that we want to create an environment in which the UK as a whole can continue to be a world leader in research, science and the tertiary education sector more broadly. The government has already announced that UK researchers can still apply for Horizon 2020 funding projects while the UK is a member of the EU and the Treasury will underwrite the payment of such awards, even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU. The Treasury will also guarantee funding for European Territorial Cooperation projects signed before we leave the EU and which continue after we have left, where they provide strong value for money and are in line with domestic strategic priorities. Horizon 2020 funding supports collaboration between EU Member States or Associated countries.

Leaving the EU means we will want to take our own decisions about how to deliver the policy objectives previously targeted by EU funding. We will consult with stakeholders to review all EU funding schemes in the round, to ensure that any ongoing funding commitments best serve the UK‘s national interest, while ensuring appropriate investor certainty.

The UK remains a member of the EU until our withdrawal is completed. There is no change to those currently participating in, or about to start, programmes such as Erasmus+ exchanges. Erasmus+ is open to a number of countries across Europe and beyond. We are not going to provide a running commentary on every twist and turn of the negotiations, but we will work hard to get the best deal for Britain, its universities, and the wider research sector.

The Government is focused on delivering a successful renegotiation.

The INTERREG programmes (also known as European Territorial Co-operation) have been a waste of UK taxpayers’ money.

Under the last Administration, funds were wasted on vanity projects for artificial pan-national Euro regions, such as the “Transmanche”. Pointless expenditure included a series of Cross-Channel Cycle Lanes, films on European fairy tales, a Cross-Channel Circus, a human treadmill, transnational dance troupes and an Atlas which renamed the English Channel as “Le Pond”.

It is worth noting that, as with all Structural Funds, such European funding is merely recycled from the UK taxpayer, given the UK is a net contributor to the EU budget. There is no ‘free’ money from the European Union. Indeed, the UK is a net loser given the massive amount spent on bureaucracy, complex auditing and stupid projects that would never have been funded by the UK Government directly. There is a strong case for repatriating Structural Funds, cutting out the middle man of the European Commission, and freeing up money to directly support regeneration and economic development across the United Kingdom.

In as far as we are stuck with the current programme, we have sought to ensure that the 2014-20 schemes focus on jobs and growth, as well as tackling genuine maritime-related issues such as coastal flooding. Looking ahead, there is a strong case to consider for the United Kingdom giving notice in the next Parliament and withdraw from the programme completely.