Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Regional Inequality

Monday 9 January 2023 · 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

  • Ministerial policies aim to address regional inequality through investment in local places.
  • The levelling-up fund supports local capital projects to improve wage growth and life chances.
  • The Minister praised the achievements highlighted by Jonathan Gullis regarding Kidsgrove town deal and other initiatives.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Margaret Ferrier SNP
Economy Local Government
Context

The MP is concerned about the effectiveness of policies addressing regional inequality.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the impact of the Department's policies on regional inequality?

Answer from Dehenna Davison

In this challenging economic context, levelling up to tackle regional inequality is more important than ever. While this requires a whole-Government effort, my Department continues to push ahead through investment in local places, for example through the UK shared prosperity fund, from which I understand the Glasgow city region has been allocated more than £73 million for interventions that will build pride in place and improve life chances for people living in the region.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific assessment requested but only general commitment provided

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Q2 Margaret Ferrier SNP
Economy Employment
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of levelling-up funding on local economic conditions amid a cost of living crisis.

Question

Happy new year, Mr Speaker. As successful bids for the levelling-up fund are finalised—I hope to see Shawfield in my constituency receive some money—how does the Minister expect this round of funding to support wage growth across the UK in the light of the cost of living crisis?

Answer from Dehenna Davison

I appreciated the hon. Member's pitch, which I am sure we will take on board alongside those made by colleagues across the House. The levelling-up fund is there to support local capital projects, of which there is such a wide range. Many of those will help improve wage growth, improve life chances and improve the skills of young people so that they can get on in life, because that is what the Conservative Government are all about.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific impact on wage growth not detailed

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Q3 Jonathan Gullis
Local Government
Context

The MP is highlighting the successes of a Conservative-led council in addressing regional inequality through various funding programmes.

Question

With £56 million from the levelling-up fund, a £17.6 million Kidsgrove town deal, masses of funding from the shared prosperity fund and, of course, a Conservative-led council building 1,000 homes a year, on average, and reopening things such as Tunstall town hall, which Labour left shut for 30 years, does the Minister agree that those who want to see regional inequality broken should vote Conservative in May's local elections?

Answer from Dehenna Davison

I could not have said it better myself.

Not addressed: None, as the question was about political endorsement rather than policy impact

How: Changed Subject To Personal Agreement

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