Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Levelling-up Funds: Criteria

Monday 27 June 2022 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The levelling-up fund targets money at places most in need using an index that includes metrics such as productivity, skills, unemployment and commercial vacancy rates.
  • In round 1 of the fund, over half the money allocated went to the 20% most deprived local authorities.
  • The Minister agrees that investing in sports opportunities for young people, particularly in deprived areas, can be transformative for levelling up.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stephanie Peacock Lab Barnsley South
Economy Local Government
Context

MP questioned recent assessment of impartiality in awarding levelling-up funds, pointing out specific metrics used such as productivity and unemployment rates.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the impartiality of criteria used to award levelling-up funds? The levelling-up fund targets money at places most in need using an index that includes productivity, skills, unemployment and commercial vacancy rates. Over half the round 1 funding went to the 20% most deprived local authorities.

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

The levelling-up fund targets money at those places that are most in need, using an index that includes metrics such as productivity, skills, unemployment and commercial vacancy rates. In round 1 of the fund, over half the money allocated went to the 20% most deprived local authorities.

Answered
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Q2 Stephanie Peacock Lab Barnsley South
Economy Local Government
Context

MP referenced a visit to discuss regeneration proposals with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and highlighted how Barnsley is deserving of levelling-up funding.

Question

I thank the Secretary of State for visiting Barnsley East to meet the Coalfields Regeneration Trust to discuss its regeneration proposals. He will have seen from his visit how, by every measure, Barnsley is deserving of levelling-up funding, so despite our previous two bids being rejected, will he consider Barnsley in the upcoming round?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

The hon. Lady will know that the allocation is a completely transparent process. If she wants to find out more about the help sessions for local authorities, we can provide information on how they can improve their bids.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Consideration for Barnsley in the upcoming round

How: Transparent Process, Help Sessions

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Q3 Tom Hunt
Economy Community Security
Context

MP discussed potential levelling-up bids from Ipswich councils focusing on investment in sports opportunities for young people.

Question

It is likely that Ipswich is going to be connected to two levelling-up bids, one from the county council and one from the borough council. Does the Minister agree that investing in sports opportunities for young people, particularly in deprived areas, can be transformative for levelling up, and will she therefore welcome our plans to transform Gainsborough sports and community centre? Will she confirm that the civil servants will work as quickly as possible so that my constituents can see results on the ground, like with the towns fund?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I agree with both things, and we support all levelling-up bids.

Not addressed: Welcoming of Ipswich's plans for levelling-up funding and confirmation of quick review

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Q4 Alex Norris Labour (Co-op) Nottingham North and Kimberley
Economy Parliamentary Procedure
Context

MP referred to a critical Public Accounts Committee report on the levelling-up approach, advocating for sustained funding targeted at need.

Question

The recent report from the Public Accounts Committee was a huge blow to the way in which the Government are seeking to level up and it exposed once again the debilitating impact of beauty parades and unclear allocation criteria. If the Secretary of State thinks that was praise, then goodness me! This can be resolved in future by the Government accepting our calls for proper, sustained funding that is targeted at need. Therefore, to make sure that we are never in this situation again, will the Minister commit to accepting amendment 13 to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

No, I will not commit to that. While we hold the Public Accounts Committee in high esteem, we reject much of the criticism and we will publish our response to its report in the summer.

Not addressed: Commitment to accept amendment 13

How: Rejection Of Criticism, Future Response

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