RHUN ap Iorwerth, MS for Ynys Môn, has expressed his disappointment that the Shared Prosperity Fund announcement, which includes £16million for Anglesey, is a fraction of the funding that would be available through the EU structural funds.

Mr ap Iorwerth referred to the lack of joined-up thinking around the fund as an “un-strategic mess”.

He joined other members in expressing serious concerns that the fund does not address the real needs of communities in Wales.

READ MORE:

Ynys Môn MP welcomes £16million from UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund

Conwy and Denbighshire to receive millions to help 'level up'

 

In the Senedd, he said: “This is good old-fashioned pork barrel politics, isn’t it?

“We heard recently that Ynys Môn would be getting some £16m from the so-called Shared Prosperity Fund.

“And whilst any funding is to be welcomed, of course – and I’ll work with partners to make sure that projects on Anglesey will benefit as best as possible – there’s no escaping the fact that this is a fraction of the funding available under EU structural funds and falls way short of the UK Government’s promise that we wouldn’t lose a penny after Brexit – which the Conservatives clearly don’t mind one bit.

“It’s a mess, but my question relates to the fact that this is an un-strategic mess.

“Does the First Minister (Mark Drakeford) agree that there’s no joined-up thinking here from the UK Government, no long-term plan?

“And can he tell me what pressure Welsh ministers can try to bring to bear on their UK counterparts to try to make subsequent funding rounds at least a little bit more strategic in nature?”

In his response, Mr Drakeford, agreed and expressed his dismay that this fund was first announced in 2017, but has taken until April 2022 before any substantive discussions took place with UK Government Ministers about the way the fund would be used.

He stated that the funding formula proposed does not align with the “greatest need in Wales”.