Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Pride in Place Programme

Wednesday 10 June 2026 · 3 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

  • UK Government investing up to 480 million in 24 Scottish neighbourhoods over 10 years through the Pride in Place programme.
  • Darvel Improvement Group received 200,000 for a project celebrating Sir Alexander Fleming's legacy.
  • Perth has received no funding from the levelling-up fund or Pride in Place programme despite its economic contributions.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Lillian Jones Lab Kilmarnock and Loudoun
Scotland Community Security
Context

The question arises from the Pride in Place programme aimed at supporting neighbourhood regeneration across Scotland, with Kilmarnock receiving £20 million. This includes work by the Darvel Improvement Group.

Question

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues through the Pride in Place programme to support regeneration in Scotland. My constituency's Darvel Improvement Group was awarded £200,000 for a project that includes restoring the Sir Alexander Fleming commemorative garden and creating an educational memorial marking 100 years since penicillin discovery.

Answer from Douglas Alexander

The UK Government are investing up to £480 million in 24 Scottish neighbourhoods over 10 years through the Pride in Place programme, directly supporting communities to shape their local areas. The Darvel Improvement Group has secured £200,000 for their project celebrating Sir Alexander Fleming's legacy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address the specific ask about commitment level of empowering local people

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Q2 Lillian Jones Lab Kilmarnock and Loudoun
Culture, Media & Sport Local Government
Context

The Darvel Improvement Group received £200,000 from the Pride in Place fund to restore a garden and create an educational memorial. This project celebrates Sir Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin.

Question

Happy birthday, Mr Speaker. I am delighted that the Darvel Improvement Group was awarded £200,000 for their work on restoring the Sir Alexander Fleming commemorative garden and creating an educational memorial marking 100 years since penicillin's discovery. Does my right hon. Friend agree that putting power into local hands helps communities deliver such projects?

Answer from Douglas Alexander

The Darvel Improvement Group received £200,000 from the Pride in Place impact fund for their project celebrating Sir Alexander Fleming's legacy. The world owes an immeasurable debt to Sir Alexander Fleming.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address whether local empowerment was effective for delivering projects

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Q3 Pete Wishart SNP Perth and Kinross-shire
Scotland Local Government
Context

The levelling-up fund has not allocated any funds to Perth, despite the city's contribution to Scotland's economy and its poverty levels being similar to other Scottish cities.

Question

Perth is the only Scottish city that has received no funding from the levelling-up fund or Pride in Place programme. The Minister previously stated that we did not meet deprivation criteria for allocations. Given Perth's economic contributions, why have we not received any funds and when can we expect our share?

Answer from Douglas Alexander

Perth is fully aware of the methodology used to allocate British public funds through an objective basis, despite the city's economic contributions and poverty levels.

Not addressed: Did not provide a timeline or explanation for Perth's lack of funding allocation

How: Changed Subject

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