Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Levelling-up Fund: Potential Outcomes

Wednesday 17 November 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government assessment indicates significant benefits from the 121 million levelling-up fund for Wales, focusing on job creation and community growth.
  • The Pontcysyllte aqueduct and canal world heritage centre project is expected to provide long-term economic benefits through increased tourism.
  • Chris Bryant raised concerns about disused coal tips in Rhondda, highlighting the need for additional funding to address safety issues.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Simon Baynes
Economy Wales Local Government
Context

The £121 million levelling-up fund allocated to Wales includes significant investments in Denbighshire and Wrexham, with over £16.4 million already invested.

Question

What assessment the Government have made of the potential outcomes of the £121 million levelling-up fund allocated to Wales?

Answer from David Davies

Wales will benefit significantly from the levelling-up fund, with projects focused on delivering jobs, promoting growth and levelling up communities. In Denbighshire and Wrexham, including in my hon. Friend's constituency of Clwyd South, communities will benefit from over £16.4 million in UK Government investment through round 1 of the levelling-up fund and the community renewal fund.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The long-term economic, social and cultural impacts were not specifically addressed.

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Q2 Simon Baynes
Economy Wales
Context

The successful bid at the Pontcysyllte aqueduct and canal world heritage centre will provide significant economic benefits to Clwyd South.

Question

How would the Minister assess the long-term economic, social and cultural impact of, and benefits arising from, the levelling-up fund in Wales, particularly our Clwyd South bid?

Answer from David Davies

The successful levelling-up fund bid at the Pontcysyllte aqueduct and the canal world heritage centre will obviously maximise tourism in the area and provide significant long-term economic benefits to my hon. Friend's constituency. However, it is just one small part of a much larger programme including the £121 million levelling-up fund, the £46 million community renewal fund and £2.5 billion extra money in a record block grant for the Welsh Labour Government.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide a detailed economic, social or cultural impact assessment specifically requested.

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Q3 Chris Bryant Lab Rhondda and Ogmore
Wales Environment
Context

A disused former coal tip slid into the river last year, costing £14 million to rectify. Five similar tips remain in the Rhondda.

Question

One of the problems that we have in the Rhondda is a large number of disused former coal tips, one of which slid down into the river last year. It cost us £14 million to rectify that, and we have another five similar tips in the Rhondda. Can we please have some more money to ensure that we do not have another Aberfan disaster?

Answer from David Davies

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that, as I said earlier, this is a devolved matter. He will also be aware that more than £2.5 billion of extra money has been provided to the Welsh Labour Government. If there are dangerous coal tips in the hon. Gentleman's constituency, I urge him to talk to his colleagues in Welsh Labour, ask them to provide the money and get the problem resolved as quickly as possible.

Not addressed: The questioner's request for more funding was not addressed.

How: This Is A Devolved Matter.

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