Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Levelling-up Fund

Monday 4 December 2023 · 9 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 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • On Monday 20 November, the government announced an additional 1 billion investment in 55 projects across Great Britain.
  • The Minister praised the efforts in Pembrokeshire, highlighting the regeneration of Haverfordwest town centre and the saving of a local pub through community ownership funding.
  • The Minister agreed that Clwyd South's 13.3 million investment from the levelling-up fund and the 160 million investment zone for Wrexham are examples of the fund's effectiveness.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Duncan Baker
Local Government
Context

The MP asked about recent assessments on how well the Levelling-Up Fund is distributing funding across all parts of the UK.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the levelling-up fund at distributing funding across all parts of the UK?

Answer from Jacob Young

On Monday 20 November we announced that a further £1 billion will be invested in 55 projects across Great Britain, from Bolton to Elgin, and from Newcastle to Rhyl. In the third round we have targeted funding at places across Great Britain that are most in need, as assessed through our levelling-up needs metrics. We have also ensured the best possible regional spread of projects, so that every part of Great Britain benefits from the fund over its lifetime. Further details are set out in a published methodology note.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Stephen Crabb Con
Wales Local Government
Context

The MP highlighted successful projects in Pembrokeshire, comparing them to EU funding schemes, questioning the effectiveness of new levelling-up pots.

Question

With new money helping Pembrokeshire County Council to regenerate Haverfordwest town centre, with community ownership funding enabling the villagers of Hayscastle Cross to save their local pub, and with new investment in Visit Pembrokeshire to improve accessibility for tourists visiting the county, does the Minister agree that, compared with the clunky, difficult-to-access EU funding schemes, these new pots of levelling-up money are being distributed far more effectively to all parts of the United Kingdom?

Answer from Jacob Young

My right hon. Friend is right that the efforts we are making in Pembrokeshire, in part thanks to him and other Members of Parliament for the county, demonstrate levelling up in action in his part of Wales. I am delighted to continue working with him on that.

Partly answered

How: Working With

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Simon Baynes
Wales
Context

The MP commended the effectiveness of the £13.3 million investment and the newly announced £160 million investment zone for Wrexham, Clwyd South and Flintshire.

Question

Does the Minister agree that Clwyd South's £13.3 million of levelling-up projects in the Trevor basin, Llangollen and Corwen, which I recently visited, and the newly announced £160 million investment zone for Wrexham, Clwyd South and Flintshire are shining examples of the effectiveness of levelling up galvanising investment and activity in north-east Wales?

Answer from Jacob Young

My hon. Friend is a fantastic champion for his constituents in Clwyd South, and for constituents in Shropshire as well. I completely agree that the £13.3 million investment from the levelling-up fund will protect a valuable heritage site for north Wales, an area enjoyed by locals, while encouraging visitors to stay longer and spend more in local shops, cafés and campsites. The recently announced investment zone in Wrexham and Flintshire also demonstrates our commitment to levelling up investment in research, innovation and support for economic development in the region.

Partly answered

How: Working With

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Duncan Baker
Local Government
Context

The MP requested £3 million for a roundabout in Sheringham but the local council has not been able to attract levelling-up or community renewal funding.

Question

My local council has sadly been unable to attract any levelling-up funding or community renewal funding into North Norfolk. As I have repeatedly requested in this place, I need just £3 million for a roundabout at the top of Holway Road in Sheringham, but £3 million is too small for a levelling-up bid and too much for Norfolk County Council. In the spirit of Christmas, how can the Minister give me a present of £3 million for a roundabout in North Norfolk?

Answer from Jacob Young

I wish I could give my hon. Friend a Christmas present. I recognise his work, campaigning on behalf of the people of Sheringham for the improvement of the A148 Holway Road junction. I know he is already engaging closely with Norfolk County Council on the project. The £600 million investment fund, agreed through the Norfolk county deal, will provide the county council with the local means to fund exactly this sort of project, with the first tranche of funding due to be available next year. If there is anything further I can do, I would be delighted to work with him and with colleagues in the Department for Transport to progress this project.

Partly answered

How: Working With

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Sammy Wilson DUP East Antrim
Northern Ireland Local Government
Context

The MP questioned why Northern Ireland did not receive any levelling-up funding in the last round.

Question

The Minister will not have too much difficulty assessing the effectiveness of the levelling-up fund in Northern Ireland, because Northern Ireland is the only country in the United Kingdom not to receive one penny in the last round of levelling-up funding. He will not level with the people of Northern Ireland, giving the spurious excuse that, because an Executive has not been formed, he cannot allocate the money. What discussions does he need to have with the Northern Ireland Executive that he did not have with the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Parliament or any local authority in England before allocating money there?

Answer from Jacob Young

The right hon. Gentleman and I have had numerous conversations to that effect. Northern Ireland has benefited from £120 million in rounds 1 and 2 of the levelling-up fund but, in the context of growing pressure on Northern Ireland budgets, it is right that the UK Government should consider their approach to the funding available for Northern Ireland in this round. In LUF3, £30 million has been reserved for Northern Ireland and, as part of our commitment to levelling up, we will work with the restored Executive to find the best approach to supporting people in Northern Ireland. I again confirm to the right hon. Gentleman that I will work with him and others, once the Executive are back up and running, to see how we can best level up his community.

Partly answered

How: Working With

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q6 Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire
Housing Community Security Local Government
Context

The MP highlighted the lack of levelling-up funding in Whitchurch and its loss of civic centre.

Question

Whitchurch in my constituency has not received any levelling-up funding, whether from the levelling-up fund itself, the towns fund or the future high streets fund. Now it has found itself without a civic centre because of dangerous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, so it has lost its library, registry office and driving test centre, which was soon to be reopened following a long campaign by myself and others. Will the Minister meet me to work out what we can do to put that important building back into the heart of Whitchurch?

Answer from Jacob Young

I would be happy to meet the hon. Member.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q7 Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Economy Local Government
Context

The Resolution Foundation's report on economic stagnation highlights the need for greater financial devolution across all areas, not just favoured few.

Question

One of the speakers at today's event was Andy Haldane from the Levelling Up Advisory Council, who mentioned that greater financial devolution is needed in all regions. Does the Minister agree with him and believe more economic devolution is required?

Answer from Jacob Young

I agree with Andy Haldane that more financial devolution is needed in all regions. The government has followed its devolution framework, expanding it to over 60% of England and investing £13 billion into local communities. This includes significant projects like Teesside's freeport and town deals for various towns.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific commitments or timeline on implementing financial devolution across all regions as asked

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q8 Anum Qaisar
Economy Local Government
Context

The community renewal fund was established to address regional disparities. Academics from the University of Manchester have found that some regions are not benefiting equally.

Question

Academics from the University of Manchester reported that the community renewal fund favoured the south of England at the expense of other regions. How does the Minister think levelling up is going?

Answer from Jacob Young

We have committed over £13.9 billion to communities across the UK, including Scotland. We will publish details of the levelling-up missions at a later date.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not evaluate the effectiveness or provide specifics on regional inequalities addressed by the programme

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q9 Anum Qaisar
Education Economy
Context

Academics from the University of Manchester found that the community renewal fund distributed funds unequally, benefiting some regions more than others.

Question

University of Manchester academics reported that £9.9 million went to the south of England at the expense of other regions through the community renewal fund. Does the Minister agree that this trend shows his Department's plans are doing little to tackle regional inequalities?

Answer from Jacob Young

I completely disagree with the findings. The biggest recipients of the levelling-up fund are the north-west, north-east, and Yorkshire and Humber regions.

Not addressed: Did not address the specific distribution trends or acknowledge any regional disparities in funding allocation

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email