Oral Answers to Questions

Lauren Edwards Excerpts

Monday 2nd September 2024 Commons Chamber

[Patrick Hurley (Southport) (Lab)]

5. What steps she plans to take to help regenerate high streets.

[Lauren Edwards (Rochester and Strood) (Lab)]

12. What steps she plans to take to help regenerate high streets.

[Lee Pitcher (Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme) (Lab)]

14. What steps she plans to take to help regenerate high streets.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lauren Edwards]

The Government are rightly focused on bringing empty properties back into use as part of our commitment to regenerate high streets, but encouraging footfall by supporting local communities to hold events in our town centres is another way we can bring life back to our high streets and support local businesses. That is certainly the approach I took when I was the cabinet member on Medway Council in charge of economic regeneration, using the UK shared prosperity fund. Will my hon. Friend meet me to discuss learnings from that experience and what an improved new fund could look like under this Government?

[Alex Norris]

I thank my hon. Friend for her kind invitation: I am keen to understand more about the Medway experience. I know that the UK shared prosperity fund has been used very effectively throughout the country, and that there is a great deal of interest in its future. Decisions on funding beyond March 2025 are a matter for the Budget, but in the meantime I am keen to talk to my hon. Friend about her experience and the lessons that have been learnt.