Pride in Place Community Spaces
2026-04-13
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the potential benefits of Pride in Place funding for local community spaces.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Pride in Place funding on community spaces.
The Hon. Friend visited Enfield Wash during Easter recess and noted that many places in phase 1 have chosen to spend their funds on community spaces, which allows communities to come together and articulate their aspirations for the future.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific assessment or data was provided on the impact of Pride in Place funding on community spaces.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is responding to the Secretary of State's visit to Enfield Wash, a deprived area. She highlights significant budget reductions over 14 years, impacting social care and youth services, despite efforts by the Labour council to support residents.
After 14 years of Conservative cuts, Enfield lost around 60% of its funding, hitting vital services such as adult social care, youth services and our high street. Despite the cuts, Enfield Labour council has worked tirelessly to protect residents and support the most vulnerable. Does my right hon Friend agree with me and our brilliant Labour council leader Ergin Erbil that fair funding is essential for these areas?
Fair funding will provide a significant increase for Enfield council, in line with deprivation levels. The additional Pride in Place funding for two of the most held-back areas will allow them to take control of their own futures.
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Assessment & feedback
The Secretary did not specifically acknowledge or disagree with the MP's concerns about previous cuts and current efforts by the Labour council.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Staffordshire county council area is facing a challenge with community spaces despite being eligible for additional investment through Pride in Place. The lack of local authorities' eligibility under this programme raises concerns about potential gerrymandering and the need to reconsider opportunities for Staffordshire.
In the Staffordshire county council area we have amazing community spaces, but they would benefit from additional investment, and Pride in Place would have been a great way to allocate it. Sadly, none of the local authorities in that county council area is eligible for Pride in Place, and the result feels a little like gerrymandering, but I am sure that that is not the case. Will the Secretary of State commit to looking afresh at whether there is any opportunity for Staffordshire not to be forgotten by this Government?
Through fair funding, Labour is ensuring that funding goes where deprivation is highest. The previous Prime Minister, the right hon. Member for Richmond and Northallerton (Rishi Sunak), stood up in a leafy garden in Tunbridge Wells and boasted about how the Conservatives were taking money away from deprived areas to use it for what I can only assume was gerrymandering.
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Assessment & feedback
Reviewing Staffordshire's eligibility for Pride in Place funding
Attacking Previous Government
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Pride in Place funding in Dudley is being divided between two constituencies, raising concerns about dilution and the impact on communities with high levels of deprivation. There's a need for tangible improvements to be seen from this investment.
The Pride in Place funding in Dudley is being divided between two constituencies, risking the dilution of its impact. Given the high levels of deprivation among many of my constituents, what steps will my right hon. Friend take to ensure that communities in Dudley fully feel the transformational benefits of the investment and see tangible improvements? Will he meet me to discuss how we can crowd in funding?
Of course, the most exciting thing about Pride in Place is that communities themselves, rather than politicians, make the decisions about how the money is spent. They will come together, from across the area that is benefiting from the funding, to decide what they want to do to put pride back into a place that had pride ripped out of its heart by the Conservatives.
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Assessment & feedback
Steps for ensuring communities in Dudley benefit from Pride in Place funding and meeting to discuss additional opportunities
Attacking Previous Government
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
There are real concerns that rural areas, such as those mentioned by groups like the Rural Services Network and Plunkett UK, may be left behind due to a lack of targeted funding for key rural assets. Groups advocate for a £10 million rural community ownership fund.
There are real concerns that Pride in Place is just another example of this Government's blind spot on rural areas. Groups such as the Rural Services Network and Plunkett UK warn that villages are being left behind. Key rural assets are disappearing fast, and Plunkett is calling for a targeted £10 million rural community ownership fund to help. What are the Government doing to ensure that rural communities are not left out again?
Of course, the funding was distributed according to data provided by the indices of multiple deprivation, so it is going to the most deprived areas, wherever they may lie in the country—be it in urban or rural areas. The fair funding review also ensured that funding targeted the areas that needed it most and were most deprived of it by the previous Government. It included a measure on rurality to ensure that rural areas get their fair share.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific measures for preventing rural communities from being overlooked in Pride in Place funding
Response accuracy