Regional Funding 2026-09-08
2026-09-08
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to regional funding arrangements on the economies of local communities.
The Government will support good growth in every postcode, including in Cornwall and Gloucester. We have already established No. 10 North to work in partnership with local leaders, businesses and communities, and at the Budget next month we will publish plans for further fiscal devolution, including greater retention of business rates revenue for local councils and strategic authorities.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Gloucester does not have a metro mayor or combi [5D [K combined authority, but the constituency supports the Government's devoluti [8D [K devolution agenda.
I thank the Minister for her answer. I fully support [K the Government's exciting agenda of devolution, which takes power out of Wh [2D [K Whitehall and puts it into the hands of residents and communities like mine [4D [K mine. However, my constituency of Gloucester does not have a metro mayor, a [1D [K and we are not part of a combined authority. I am determined to ensure that [4D [K that Gloucester is not left behind and is included in these important plans [5D [K plans going forward. Can the Minister confirm how we can work together to e [1D [K ensure that Gloucester feels the benefits and investment from the Governmen [9D [K Government's devolution agenda?
My hon. Friend is a great champion for his constituency [12D [K constituency. The Cabinet statement on devolution set out the Government's [K ambitions to accelerate devolution across the country by establishing a str [3D [K strategic authority for every area in England that wants one by the end of [K 2028. All strategic authorities, including those without a mayor, will bene [4D [K benefit from greater powers over skills, transport and housing.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide specific actions or mech [4D [K mechanisms for Gloucester to work with the Government on devolution.
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
Cornwall has not joined a mayoral strategic aut [3D [K authority, and recent funding announcements have favoured northern England [K and mayoral strategic authorities. The Prime Minister has discussed devolut [7D [K devolution with Cornwall, which could support the Cornish economy.
As the furthest southerly Labour MP in the UK, I note [4D [K note several recent announcements of funding going to the north of England [K and mayoral strategic authorities. I have been very encouraged by the Prime [5D [K Prime Minister's comments on Cornish devolution, and there is no requiremen [10D [K requirement for Cornwall to join a mayoral strategic authority. Can the Min [3D [K Minister elaborate on how changes to regional funding arrangements will sup [3D [K support the Cornish economy?
My hon. Friend is a doughty champion for his area. As h [1D [K he said, the Prime Minister has been engaging with Cornwall—including, impo [4D [K importantly, with its six MPs, including my hon. Friend—on a devolution agr [3D [K agreement. This will support the Cornish economy through stronger statutory [9D [K statutory powers on transport and housing, and the ability to introduce an [K overnight visitor levy, which can be invested in projects that drive growth [6D [K growth in the region. As he will know, the Government are already investing [9D [K investing in Cornwall's high potential sectors with the £30 million Kernow [K industrial growth fund.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Salisbury is a unitary authority without a comb [4D [K combined authority or metro mayor. Since the current government came into p [1D [K power, the area has seen the lowest or one of the lowest settlements in pol [3D [K police and local government funding. There is also concern about the withdr [6D [K withdrawal of funding for the road network in the south of Wiltshire.
I welcome the Chief Secretary to her new position, bu [2D [K but what words of comfort could she give the residents of Salisbury in Wilt [4D [K Wiltshire, a unitary authority? We are not part of a combined authority and [3D [K and we do not have a metro mayor. Since this Government came in, we have se [2D [K seen the lowest settlement or one of the lowest three settlements on police [6D [K police funding and local government funding, and we have seen the withdrawa [9D [K withdrawal of funding for our road network in the south of Wiltshire. There [5D [K There is a concern that, with the focus elsewhere in big urban metropolitan [12D [K metropolitan areas, rural England will be forgotten. Is that not likely to [K be the case?
I thank the right hon. Gentleman, in whose footsteps I [K am again following by taking on another job that he did in government. As a [1D [K a former Environment Secretary, living in a rural area of Buckinghamshire m [1D [K myself and representing a semi-rural seat, I reassure him that this Governm [7D [K Government of course care about driving growth in rural areas. There is gre [3D [K great potential there, which is why we are supporting our farmers through a [1D [K a £2.7 billion a year sustainable farming budget, and we are also improving [9D [K improving connectivity in rural areas.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address the specific funding concerns for Sal [3D [K Salisbury
Reassurance
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Cornwall is the poorest region in the UK and is [2D [K is now receiving no regional funding despite being entitled to EU objective [9D [K objective 1 aid. This lack of support is unsustainable for a region that ne [2D [K needs additional funding to drive growth.
Notwithstanding the Minister's response to the hon. M [1D [K Member for Camborne and Redruth (Perran Moon), my constituency neighbour, d [1D [K does the Minister not need to reflect on the fact that Cornwall, being the [K poorest region in the country and therefore entitled to EU objective 1 aid, [4D [K aid, is now receiving no regional funding whatsoever? That is simply not su [2D [K sustainable for a region that really does need additional support to get gr [2D [K growth happening.
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, but I disa [4D [K disagree with his assessment. As I said to my hon. Friend the Member for Gl [2D [K Gloucester (Alex McIntyre), there are opportunities for areas that do not o [1D [K opt to have a mayor, but set up as foundation strategic authorities to gain [4D [K gain the benefit of retaining more business rates and of greater powers ove [3D [K over skills, transport and housing.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address the issue of Cornwall's lack of regio [5D [K regional funding
Disagreement With Assessment
Introducing New To [2D [K Topic
Response accuracy