To ask the Minister of Health (i) what approaches have been made to his Department for match funding in relation to European Social Fund projects for the 2022-23 financial year; and (ii) what provision is being made in his Departmental Budget for the 2022-23 financial year to provide match funding to European Social Fund projects during the 2022-23 financial year.

For over three decades, the European Social Fund (ESF) Programme, funded by the European Commission, has been a key source of funding for disadvantaged people. This includes the long-term unemployed, ex-offenders, young people not in education, employment or training (NEETS), and people with a disability.

The ESF has enabled people with a wide range of disabilities to access and stay in supported employment. This has helped Trusts to meet their strategic priorities as set out in the draft Programme for government Framework and related regional health and social care service delivery models.

The Fund has been due to finish at the end of March 2022, however the programme has been extended under ESF Call 3 until 31st March 2023, dependent on organisations securing the necessary match funding. Beyond this, arrangements post-ESF remain unclear - including the role of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund as its replacement.

The total value of ESF projects that specifically support the disability sector is £15.6m, supporting 21 individual projects.

The majority of projects have sufficient match funding in place to proceed post 01 April 2022, however I understand that a small number still have match funding gaps. All have a minimum of 81% of the funding in place and could be scaled back if absolutely necessary.