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 Scottish Government Simplification Paper
Published: 01/06/2010 16:53:43

As part of its response to the economic downturn, the European Commission has embarked on a “Simplification” initiative designed to ease perceived bottlenecks in programme infrastructure which were impeding effective implementation. 

The Scottish Government has released a paper summarising the range of the Commission’s actions and proposals – to date – and set out the Scottish Government’s position on how these will be taken forward in the implementation of the 2007-13 Structural Funds programmes in Scotland. 

The main areas for applicants are for staff costs and revenue generation (capital projects and revenue generating services only).  The paper identifies that some projects may have the need for staff to work intensively at some point during a project cycle, mostly full-time but over a number of weeks rather than during the whole project, and that this is eligible.  Such costs would have to be justified at the time of application, or through a NOC and agreed, by exception, through the IAB and Managing Authority.  The other area of staff costs clarified relates to staff working concurrently on a number of projects but where the 10% minimum time requirement is not met against any single project.  If the combined time being worked concurrently is 10% or more, such staff time can be claimed.  The paper is on the HIPP website on www.hipp.org.uk/files/downloads/download1413.doc