EXCLUSIVE: Peers to force ministers to reveal plans for future of '˜vital' regional funding

Lib Dem members of the House of Lords have tabled an amendment to the Government’s Article 50 Bill that would require ministers to spell out how their Brexit strategy will impact on local funding and economic growth in each of the English regions.

The motion is a response to concerns about long-term investment in areas like Yorkshire once the UK ceases to have access to multi-billion pound European regional development (ERDF) and social funds (ESF).

The Government has offered some assurances for EU-funded projects that were signed off before the Autumn Statement, but the Lib Dems claim their new amendment will force ministers to publish their plans for the future.

“EU funds have provided a vital lifeline for areas long neglected by Westminster, building new infrastructure, training our young people and creating jobs,” party leader Tim Farron told the Yorkshire Post.

“But the government has failed to guarantee EU regional funding for Yorkshire will be fully replaced after Brexit.

“London receives ten times more transport investment from this government than Yorkshire. That is a sign of their misplaced priorities.

“We will use the Brexit bill to hold the government’s feet to the fire and fight to secure future public investment in Yorkshire and other regions across the UK.”

Yorkshire has been one of the biggest recipients of EU investment and was due to receive £600m by the end of the current funding round.

When recently pressed by the Labour MP Dan Jarvis to explain whether this funding will be replaced after Brexit, Treasury ministers would only state that the Government will “take [its] own decisions about how to deliver the policy objectives previously targeted by EU funding”.

Amendents to the EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill are due to be debated in the Lords next week. Motions concerning the rights of EU citizens to remain in the UK and a guarantee of a “meaningful vote” on the final deal are expected to get significant cross-party support.

The move by the Lib Dems comes as EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker warned the future relationship between Britain and the trading bloc will take years to negotiate and the UK can expect a hefty bill as a result.

Addressing the Belgian Parliament in Brussels, he said Britain must understand that it will not be able to negotiate a “cut-price or zero-cost” exit from the EU, but will have to settle the bill for commitments which it entered into as a member.

Mr Juncker also restated the Commission’s position that there will be no membership of the single market for the UK unless it signs up to freedom of movement for workers.

And he dismissed suggestions – previously voiced by Prime Minister Theresa May and Brexit Secretary David Davis – that exit talks and negotiations over future trade relations can be conducted in parallel.

“To agree on the future architecture of the relations between the UK and EU, it will need years,” he said.