House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Levelling Up Update
25 January 2024 · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Proposed by Jacob Young Con Redcar
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- The minister is laying before each House a Statement of Levelling Up Missions to detail progress on levelling up and uniting the country.
- Metrics for assessing the success of levelling up missions are included in the statement.
- Significant investments in transport, digital connectivity, education, and town regeneration are highlighted.
Issue summary
The statement outlines progress made towards levelling up and uniting the country by fulfilling missions set out in the Levelling Up White Paper.
Action requested
The minister is laying before each House a Statement of Levelling Up Missions, detailing metrics for assessing mission success. This includes significant transport investments, digital connectivity improvements, educational support, town regeneration plans, cultural and town-centre asset funding through levelling up funds, investment zones, freeports, and devolution deals.
Key facts
- £36bn earmarked for HS2 will be re-invested in transport improvements.
- £19.8bn reserved for transport investments in the North of England and £9.6bn in the Midlands respectively.
- Basic 5G coverage has been achieved for most of the population as committed.
- The Innovation Accelerators programme is investing £100m in 26 R&D projects across the UK.
- Levelling Up premium provides teachers with up to £3k annually in targeted Education Investment Areas.
- The Long-Term Plan for Towns launched in October with a £1.1bn commitment over the next decade.
- Over £4.8bn has been awarded through three rounds of the Levelling Up Fund to 271 projects across the UK.
- Eight Freeports are open in England and two Green Freeports were announced in Scotland, Wales.
- Government agreed 10 devolution deals with 26 local authorities since February 2022.