Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Towns Fund

Monday 22 April 2024 · 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The towns fund requires places to consult extensively with local communities and evidence how this feedback shaped their plans.
  • The long-term plan for towns allows towns to use extra funding to complement existing projects and secure other investments.
  • The response to a question about the Whitespots project in Northern Ireland noted that 30 million has been given to the Northern Ireland Executive as part of the Executive reformation fund.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 James Wild Con North West Norfolk
Local Government
Context

The MP is assessing the impact of the towns fund on local communities.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential impact of the towns fund on local communities?

Answer from Jacob Young

As part of their town investment plan, places were required to consult extensively with local communities and to evidence how this feedback shaped their plan. The impact of the towns fund on local communities is also a crucial part of the towns fund impact evaluation, to be published in early 2026.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer provided no specific commitment or timeline regarding the assessment's findings.

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Q2 James Wild Con North West Norfolk
Local Government
Context

The MP is inquiring about the use of an additional £20 million for King's Lynn's town investment plan.

Question

Can my hon. Friend confirm that the very welcome extra £20 million through the long-term plan for towns can be used to complement existing projects and secure other investments?

Answer from Jacob Young

I thank my hon. Friend for his commitment to levelling up in King's Lynn and across Norfolk. Our long-term plan for towns puts power back into the hands of local people. Each town must set up a new town board, comprised of local community representatives and MPs, who are responsible for developing plans underpinned by evidence of extensive community engagement.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not confirm whether the extra funding can be used to complement existing projects or secure further investments.

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland
Context

The MP is following up on the Whitespots project in Ards and North Down, which relates to WWII history.

Question

Can he confirm that the moneys necessary for the Whitespots project are there, and will he ensure that he does everything he can to make it happen?

Answer from Jacob Young

I cannot give the hon. Gentleman the assurance that he seeks, but I can say that the £30 million set aside for Northern Ireland in round 3 of the levelling-up fund has been given to the Northern Ireland Executive as part of the Executive reformation fund.

Not addressed: The answer did not confirm funding availability or ministerial support for the Whitespots project.

How: Redirected To General Levelling-Up Funding

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Q4 Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Local Government
Context

The MP criticises the effectiveness of the towns fund after five years, citing a Public Accounts Committee report.

Question

Why are this Government such a failure regarding the implementation of the towns fund?

Answer from Jacob Young

I think that is quite poor, Mr Speaker. The hon. Gentleman's constituency has itself benefited from £11.1 million of UK shared prosperity funding and £13.4 million from the levelling up fund. Next to him I see the hon. Member for Oldham West and Royton (Jim McMahon), whose constituency has benefited from £24.4 million from the towns fund.

Not addressed: The answer did not address the criticism or explain poor performance; instead, it cited examples of funding in other constituencies.

How: Redirected To Funding Benefits For Other Areas

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