Town Centre Regeneration 2024-12-04
2024-12-04
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Scottish towns are facing challenges in their regeneration, with specific concerns raised about the state of high streets.
What steps he is taking to support the regeneration of Scottish town centres. Hamilton has issues with boarded-up shops on Quarry Street indicating difficulties faced by local businesses and communities.
I commend the hon. Lady for her work with the Chancellor to help to deliver a record Budget settlement for Scotland, the largest Scottish Government Budget settlement in the history of devolution. It is now up to the Scottish Government to ensure that our towns feel the benefit of it: there can be no more excuses from the Scottish National party. The Budget also confirmed nearly £1.4 billion of funding for local growth projects, and we are delivering growth deals in all parts of Scotland, many of which are improving town centres and other community assets.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific actions or policies from the UK Government to support Scottish towns' regeneration were not addressed directly; instead, focus was on the record budget settlement for Scotland.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The area of Quarry Street in Hamilton has seen numerous businesses close down, leaving the high street with boarded-up shops. This reflects broader issues affecting Scottish towns under both Conservative and SNP governments.
Hamilton is a brilliant place to live and work, but the boarded-up shops on Quarry Street tell another story. What can this Government do to support businesses in Hamilton and Clyde Valley and across Scotland that have suffered under chaotic neglect from two Governments?
My hon. Friend is entirely correct, and I commend her for standing up for her town. In England this Labour Government have already delivered lower business rates for leisure, hospitality and retail businesses which can help high streets, and I am sure that every Scottish MP wants to see that policy replicated in Scotland.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific actions the UK government will take to support businesses in Hamilton and Clyde Valley were not detailed; instead, a general reference was made to policies for England being considered for replication in Scotland.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The constituency of Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross includes the town of Ullapool which recently received a successful post office within a Tesco branch.
For far too long, Ullapool in my constituency did not have a post office, causing great inconvenience to local people. Recently however, Tesco stepped into this breach and we now have a highly successful post office in the middle of Ullapool. May I recommend this approach to regenerating town centres to Ministers?
We are delighted to receive representations of all kinds on how to improve our town centres. We know that they have suffered neglect for far too long. I hope that all Scottish MPs will have been lobbying for the kind of support for our leisure, hospitality and retail sector that this Government has already given south of the border.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific model proposed by Tesco was not endorsed or replicated; instead, a general call to replicate successful policies from England was made.
Response accuracy