Leader Of The Council And Chair Of The Brexit Working Group Welcomed The Scottish Government's Position Paper On The Replacement For European Structural Investment Funds

20th November 2020

The Leader of The Highland Council Margaret Davidson and Chair of the Brexit Working Group Jimmy Gray welcomed the Scottish Government's position paper on the replacement for European Structural Investment Funds.

This paper was as a result of a wide consultation process in which the Highlands & Islands made a significant contribution towards.

Cllr Jimmy Gray said: "We look forward to the long awaited UK Government’s announcement on Wednesday 25 November about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which is intended to replace European Structural Funding. European Funding, which was designed to reduce regional disparities across the EU, has played an essential role in the wider development of the Highlands & Islands in the past four decades and recognised the particular challenges we faced.

We have seen significant improvements across our area with obvious benefits such as transport infrastructure including bridges, roads, airports and harbours. EU funding was also a major contributory factor in setting up the University of the Highlands & Islands and broader community benefits have accrued through poverty and social inclusion programmes, green energy developments, tourism initiatives and cultural enhancements.

We would hope that the UK Shared Prosperity will take on board the proposals outlined in the Scottish Government’s position paper particularly as they relate to local involvement".

Cllr Margaret Davidson said: “I welcome the Scottish Government’s position paper which provides a framework for Scotland’s allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. We are pleased to see that our contributions towards this have been included particularly around the areas of decentralisation and local decision making. I would look for the UK Government to take cognisance of these proposals when they announce the future of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund next week particularly since they came about after extensive stakeholder consultation.”