Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Levelling Up: Empowering Local Leaders

Monday 16 May 2022 · 2 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

  • The Department is delivering the Government's plan to empower local leaders, including offering devolution deals by 2030 to anywhere in England that wants one.
  • The Secretary of State visited Barrow to see the progress being made with the 25 million town deal and the 16 million levelling-up funding.
  • The new Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council have elected their first ever councillors, reflecting local governance changes.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Simon Fell
Local Government
Context

The question arises from the government's plan to empower local leaders across England, aimed at levelling up communities.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help empower local leaders to level up their communities.

Answer from Neil O'Brien

The Department is delivering the Government's plan to empower local leaders, including offering devolution deals by 2030 to anywhere in England that wants one.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps and mechanisms not detailed

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Q2 Simon Fell
Local Government
Context

Cumbria has elected its first ever councillors to the new Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council, marking a historic moment for the county. The question focuses on further opportunities for devolution and an elected Mayor.

Question

I thank the Secretary of State for visiting Barrow recently to see how the £25 million town deal and the £16 million levelling-up funding will transform our community. Cumbria has just elected its first ever councillors to the new Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council. This is a historic moment for our county. Does my hon. Friend the Minister agree that there is further to go and that the new councillors have the opportunity to secure a bountiful devolution deal that supercharges the county with an elected Mayor? What advice would he give to them?

Answer from Neil O'Brien

I agree with my hon. Friend. I was in Barrow and Furness a couple of weeks ago, and I was struck by the fantastic progress he is helping to drive using levelling-up funds, such as the marina village, the new bridge, the new university campus and more. I was also struck by the common linkages and opportunities across Cumbria, and I can see the case for an ambitious devolution deal covering both new authorities once they are up and running.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific advice or concrete steps not provided

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