Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the impact of increasing costs on the levelling-up agenda.
What assessment has been made of the potential effect of increases in the cost of living on his Department's levelling-up agenda?
Levelling up is not just a slogan—it is an imperative, and that is why it is a driving mission of this Government. We are establishing investment zones and freeports to create high-quality local jobs, delivering billions of pounds of investment into vital local projects and empowering local leaders through devolution deals.
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Assessment & feedback
The assessment on the impact of cost increases was not provided.
Empty Rhetoric
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP criticizes the Government for cutting £540 billion from public services over a decade, while only putting back about £500 million through levelling up.
All those words are just empty rhetoric. It is a con trick. The truth is that in a single decade the Government cut £540 billion from public services, and by March they will only have put about £500 million—one tenth of that—back in through levelling up. Is it not clear that to level up properly, we need an end both to this Government and to the economic system they have established?
Absolutely not. This is a Government that have put levelling up at the core of every single thing we do. The only way to ensure levelling up remains at the heart of Government is by voting Conservative at the next election.
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Assessment & feedback
The economic system and £540 billion cut were not addressed.
Vote For Us
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP highlights shocking figures on hospitalisations due to malnutrition, which has quadrupled since 2007.
Data from the Times Health Commission reports that nearly 11,000 people in England last year were hospitalised with malnutrition. Malnutrition itself has quadrupled since 2007, with a shocking rise in Victorian illnesses such as scurvy and rickets. Can the Minister explain how such shocking figures fit within her Government's levelling-up agenda?
I thank the hon. Lady for highlighting that. The wider 12 levelling-up missions cover a range of areas, including health and healthy life outcomes. It is important that we all work together to tackle this issue.
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Assessment & feedback
How malnutrition fits within the levelling-up agenda was not explained.
Work Together
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the lack of consultation results on unfair council tax for houses in multiple occupancy.
The Minister understands that regeneration of our high streets is key to the levelling up of our communities, yet she is aware that in Gosport that is being paralysed by unfair council tax. The Secretary of State launched a consultation to address this, but it concluded weeks ago and we still have not had the result. When will it be published?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her engagement with me and the Secretary of State on that vital issue. Unfortunately, I cannot give her a specific date right now, but I will meet her as soon as we have the result in place.
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Assessment & feedback
A specific date was not given.
Cannot Provide
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP highlights the support and funding going to Mansfield and the east midlands through various levelling-up projects.
I am grateful to my hon. Friend and to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for recent visits to Mansfield and the east midlands to support the many levelling-up projects we have going on in our region, from freeports to development companies, integrated rail plans, investment zones and levelling-up and towns fund projects, including in Mansfield. All that amounts to billions of pounds. What impact does my hon. Friend think that will have on my constituency?
My hon. Friend has done a great job of highlighting the incredible level of support going to Mansfield and the wider east midlands. That will have an enormous impact on the people living in the east midlands and on their opportunities to get on in life, which ultimately is what levelling up is all about.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific assessment was given.
Opportunities
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the £1 billion of levelling-up fund money that has not been allocated.
Up and down the country, communities are struggling with the Tories' mortgage crisis and the cost of living crisis. Those hit hardest often live in communities that were promised levelling-up funding, yet the Government sit on £1 billion of promised levelling-up fund money—money that could make a difference to those who need it most. Where on earth is it? Will the Government commit today to starting a process for the allocation of it?
We got a lot of criticism from the Opposition about round 2 of the levelling-up fund. They wanted us to get round 3 right, and we are taking the time to ensure that we get round 3 allocations right. We will announce details on how we will allocate that money in due course.
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Assessment & feedback
A specific commitment was not given.
Taking Time
Response accuracy