AQW 4281/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 07/10/2022
Answered On Date: 18/10/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy (i) how the disability employment services currently funded by the European Social Fund will be paid for after March 2023; and (ii) what conversations he has had with the Westminster government regarding its involvement in future funding of these services.

Answer:

The UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) pledges to replace EU Structural Funds. The Department for Communities (DfC) has responsibility for employability policy, including for those people with disabilities. I understand that DfC is developing a new Disability Employment Strategy which will include a long-term commitment to reducing the disability employment gap.

I have had no conversations with the Westminster government regarding future funding of disability employment services as this responsibility rests with my ministerial colleague, the Minister for Communities. More generally, the Minister of Finance leads on the negotiation of EU replacement funding with the UK Government. However, going back as far as 2018, DfE has been involved extensively with the series of Westminster officials involved in UK SPF. We have provided a substantial volume of evidence, information and data in an attempt to direct funding and have always been clear that replacement of ESF is a priority.