To ask the Minister of Finance what discussions have taken place with other departments about work that is ongoing to secure a replacement for European structural funds.

Over the last 2 years I have had regular discussions with my Ministerial colleagues on the importance of securing full replacement funding for EU Structural Funds from the Shared Prosperity Fund.

The work on securing replacement for EU Structural Funds is led by my Future Funding team via a cross-departmental workstream. This forum meets regularly to discuss future funding with a specific focus on the development and delivery of the Shared Prosperity Fund and has membership from the majority of departments.

In their engagement with Whitehall officials have been clear that any Investment Framework must be co-designed and co-delivered, have a substantive role for the Executive, be complementary to other funding streams and aligned with our local priorities.