Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Pride in Place Programme

Wednesday 26 November 2025 · 2 questions

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

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Pride in Place programme is investing almost 500 million to revitalise communities across Scotland.
  • The Scotland Office has completed evidence collection from MPs, MSPs, local authorities, and community groups to inform the selection of 14 new neighbourhoods.
  • There are no plans to change the criteria for selecting local authority areas, though confirmation of the selected areas is anticipated soon.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Elaine Stewart Lab Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
Context

The Pride in Place programme is investing £500 million to revitalise communities across Scotland. The Scotland Office has completed evidence collection from MPs, MSPs, local authorities, and community groups for the selection of 14 new neighbourhoods.

Question

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support regeneration in Scotland through the Pride in Place programme? Will the Minister give assurances on the timeline of the Pride in Place funding? It is crucial to get projects up and running as soon as possible. While it might be too early for her to wear a Santa hat, can she tell me whether successful local authorities can expect an early Christmas present?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Kirsty McNeill)

Through the Pride in Place programme, we are investing almost £500 million to revitalise communities across Scotland. As part of that, the Scotland Office has recently completed the collection of evidence from MPs, MSPs, local authorities and community groups to inform the selection of 14 new neighbourhoods that will each benefit from £20 million over 10 years. I can confirm to my hon. Friend that she will not have long to wait. It is in all our interests to get things coming down the chimney as soon as possible.

Answered
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Q2 Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
Context

The question follows the announcement of £500 million investment through the Pride in Place programme to revitalise communities across Scotland, with 14 neighbourhoods selected for £20 million each over 10 years. Concern is raised about the lack of inclusion of deprived areas like Stenhouse in Edinburgh West.

Question

Some 40% of children in Stenhouse in my constituency of Edinburgh West live in poverty. There are nine Pride in Place projects being considered across Edinburgh, but none include that area of deprivation. Are there plans to change the criteria so that such areas can be included, helping to attack problems such as child poverty?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Kirsty McNeill)

There are no plans to change the criteria against which local authority areas will be selected, but I can confirm that we do not have long to wait before the areas will be confirmed.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific changes in selection criteria

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