Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Regional Inequalities: Coastal Communities

Monday 16 October 2023 · 7 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial discussions have focused on establishing levelling-up missions to address regional inequalities in various communities.
  • The UK Government has reserved 20 billion for transport investment in the north of England, some of which can be dedicated to electric vehicles.
  • The Minister disagreed with criticism about the Government's loss of interest in the levelling-up agenda and announced 1 billion for a long-term plan to help towns across the country.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Emma Lewell Lab South Shields
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Local Government
Context

The question arises from discussions on the challenges faced by coastal communities, including regional inequality and opportunities.

Question

What recent discussions has he had with Cabinet colleagues on supporting coastal communities?

Answer from Jacob Young

We have established 12 levelling-up missions principally aimed at tackling regional inequality and ensuring that, wherever someone lives—in cities, towns, island, rural or coastal communities—their opportunities are the same. Progress on the missions will be formally reported through an annual report as set out in our landmark Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, which returns to the House of Commons tomorrow.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about recent Cabinet discussions was not addressed; instead, a general statement on levelling-up missions was provided.

How: General Statement

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Q2 Bill Esterson Lab Sefton Central
Transport Climate
Context

There is a disparity between electric vehicle charge point availability in London and other major cities in the north.

Question

The Secretary of State says that we must have infrastructure that allows us to move towards zero-emission vehicles as quickly as possible, but the biggest 14 cities in the north of England have fewer electric vehicle charge points than the City of Westminster alone. How does this disparity demonstrate levelling up?

Answer from Jacob Young

The hon. Gentleman will know of the £20 billion reserved for transport investment in the north, and I am sure that some of that can be dedicated towards electric vehicles.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address how the charge point disparity demonstrates levelling up; instead provided information on northern transport investment.

How: General Statement

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Q3 Emma Lewell Lab South Shields
Community Security Local Government
Context

A conservative think-tank reported that coastal communities face lower life expectancy, inadequate transport links and are comparatively poorer.

Question

After repeated rejections for towns and levelling-up moneys, are my constituents not right to blame the Government of the last 13 years for this deliberate levelling down?

Answer from Jacob Young

The hon. Lady, like me, represents a north-east coastal community, and she will be aware of our devolution agreement with the North East Combined Authority, which hopes to address some of the challenges in her area.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly answer whether constituents can blame the government; instead referenced a devolution agreement.

How: Reference To Other Initiative

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Q4 Mark Francois Con Rayleigh and Wickford
Local Government
Context

Essex MPs met the previous Minister to discuss a combined authority that they were overwhelmingly against.

Question

Will he and his boss meet me and other Essex MPs to hear our objections?

Answer from Jacob Young

I am happy to meet my right hon. Friend.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q5 Dan Jarvis Lab Barnsley North
Transport Local Government
Context

The Prime Minister recently announced on High Speed 2.

Question

When will local government leaders and Metro Mayors in the midlands and north of England get to know what additional resource they will get as a consequence?

Answer from Jacob Young

That question is best answered by the Department for Transport, but I will write to the hon. Gentleman when I have further details.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a direct answer; suggested consulting another department.

How: Refer To Other Department

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Q6 Katherine Fletcher
Scotland Wales Local Government
Context

The Minister met the leaders of Lancashire County Council to discuss devolving transport and skills responsibility.

Question

Will he and the whole of the Treasury Bench look favourably upon this?

Answer from Jacob Young

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her question and to you, Mr Speaker, for your point. I hope to meet Lancashire MPs next week to discuss devolution. I hope that we are able to announce a devolution deal in advance of Lancashire Day at the end of November.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q7 Paula Barker Lab Liverpool Wavertree
Economy Parliamentary Procedure Local Government
Context

There is a disparity between the rhetoric of levelling up and actual progress.

Question

Is the truth of the matter not that Downing Street has totally lost interest in that agenda, while the Department's leadership bumbles on directionless and toothless, its bold promises unfulfilled and, in many cases, utterly disregarded?

Answer from Jacob Young

I thank the hon. Lady for her kind words and her question, though I completely disagree with her. At the party conference we announced £1 billion for our long-term plan for towns, which will help us level up towns right across the country. I hope she welcomes that.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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