To ask the Minister of Finance whether he and the Permanent Secretary of his Department will be attending the meeting, on 14 October 2022, with representatives from programmes currently funded by the European Social Fund and officials from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Reverend Andrew Irvine recently wrote to me on behalf of the East Belfast Mission to outline concerns on the loss of the European Social Fund and to inform me that this meeting would be taking place with the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and informed me that an invite would issue to my Permanent Secretary.

I have responded to Reverend Irvine to assure him that the pressures faced by this sector with the loss of the European Social Fund are recognised and a regular topic for discussion across Departments.

In my response, I also highlighted a recent engagement which has taken place jointly between the Permanent Secretaries of the Departments of Finance, Economy and Communities and DLUHC. I have also provided my full support to Reverend Irvine with his efforts in lobbying the British Government to get full replacement for ESF.

Unfortunately due to prior commitments my Permanent Secretary is not available to attend. However senior officials from my Department will attend on his behalf and the organisers of this event have been informed.