Consultation on Draft National Strategic Reference Framework

1
Consultation on Draft National Strategic
Reference Framework

• EU Structural Funds 2007 2013

2
Implications for the UK of December European
Council

• UK net contribution similar to that of France and
  Italy for the first time
• SCF budget of 9.4bn
• 2.6bn for convergence Cornwall and Isles of
  Scilly 1/3 more than now, West Wales and the
  Valleys similar receipts and Highlands and
  Islands1/2 current receipts
• 6.2bn for competitiveness Merseyside and South
  Yorkshire 1/3 of current receipts
• 0.5bn for co-operation

3
Proposed new Regulatory Framework

• Four new EU Structural Funds Regulations being
  finalised
• One objective of new Regulations to strengthen
  the strategic focus of future spending on Lisbon
  and Gothenburg agendas
• Community Strategic Guidelines for Cohesion at EU
  level
• Each Member State to draw up a National Strategic
  Reference Framework

4
Structure and contents of the UKs draft Framework

• Structure and contents reflect the UKs devolved
  arrangements for regional policy
• An overview, providing a summary of Governments
  strategy for regional development
• Five chapters for England, Scotland, Wales,
  Northern Ireland and Gibraltar

5
What are we consulting on?

• The draft National Strategic Reference Framework
• Allocations under the Competitiveness Objective
• Administrative arrangements for delivery

6
The timetable

• Consultation will run from 28 February to 22 May
  2006
• DTI to publish responses on website at end of
  consultation
• DTI to produce a response to consultation and
  final NSRF within 3 months i.e. by mid August 2006

7
England Chapter

• Aim to increase growth via employment and
  productivity
• Despite good macroeconomic performance, regional
  disparities and low employment and skills remain
  critical issues for England
• Broad distinction between Greater South East and
  North, Midlands and South West
• This is reflected in Govt aims to reduce gap in
  growth rates and stretching employment and skills
  targets

8
Priorities Activities

• National priorities, but for regions to determine
  regional emphasis.
• Expectation of focus and concentration
• NSRF offers examples of actions to deliver the
  priorities
• Regions to determine exact activities.
• NSRF is not an OP!

9
Convergence Programme

• 3 ERDF Priorities
• Promoting Innovation and knowledge transfer
• Stimulating enterprise and business development
• Improving accessibility and connectivity

10
Competitiveness Programmes

• 4 ERDF Priorities
• Promoting Innovation and Knowledge transfer
• Stimulating enterprise and supporting successful
  business
• Ensuring sustainable development, production and
  consumption
• Building Sustainable Communities

11
Policy Context

• Programmes to be developed in line with existing
  regional strategies, e.g. RES, RSS
• Concentration and targeting including addressing
  city regions, therefore
• Fewer bigger transformational regeneration
  projects at regional and sub regional level

12
Policy Context

• Sub regional issues within context of regional
  strategies
• Sustainable Communities actions at local level
  where they have impact and can be delivered
  efficiently and effectively
• Expectation of delivery via alignment with
  domestic funding streams, e.g. single pot, NRF,
  LEGI

13
European Social Fund - Programme

• England ESF programme
• Regional flexibility to emphasise employment and
  skills issues identified in regional strategies
  
• Ring-fenced Convergence funding for Cornwall and
  phasing-in funding for Merseyside and South
  Yorkshire

14
European Social Fund - Priorities

• Priorities must
• address European Employment Strategy
  recommendations to UK (e.g. increase employment
  prospects of disadvantaged groups train low
  skilled workers)
• add value to strategies in UK National Reform
  Programme
• respond to regional needs and issues

15
European Social Fund - Priorities

• 1. Extending employment opportunities
• 2. Developing a skilled and adaptable workforce
• plus similar Convergence priorities for Cornwall
• and Technical Assistance

16
European Social Fund Priority 1

• Extending employment opportunities examples of
  actions
• Improve employability and skills of unemployed
  and inactive people
• Overcome barriers to work faced by disadvantaged
  groups (e.g. disabled, lone parents, older
  workers, ethnic minorities)
• Support community projects to help disadvantaged
  people into labour market

17
European Social Fund Priority 2

• Developing a skilled and adaptable workforce
  examples of actions
• Increase participation and attainment by young
  people
• Improve adult basic skills
• Help low skilled workers gain level 2 and 3
  qualifications
• Reduce gender segregation in labour market
• Develop skills of managers and workers in small
  businesses

18
European Social Fund - Delivery

• Key principles
• Strategic alignment with domestic employment and
  skills funding streams
• Regional flexibility Regional Skills
  Partnerships
• Simple system that allows providers to access a
  single funding stream
• Mainstreaming equal opportunities
• Partnership

19
Question and answer session