Oral Answers to Questions

Natalie Elphicke Excerpts

Monday 17th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Natalie Elphicke (Dover) (Con)]

17. When his Department plans to announce the allocation of funds under the levelling-up fund round 2.

[Lee Anderson (Ashfield) (Con)]

18. How many areas have been allocated funding under the levelling-up fund.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Clarke]

My hon. Friend is exactly right: levelling up is all about pockets of need, wherever they occur in this country. I know that there are many pockets in the south of England that are deprived, and it is vital to get the message out across the House that levelling up is a Union-wide concept with benefits for every corner of the country from London to Leeds right up to the north of Scotland and to the west of Wales. It is a concept with applicability wherever there is need.

[Mrs Elphicke]

Dover District Council has developed the exciting Dover Beacon bid project, which would deliver £90 million-worth of economic benefit to the town and up to 60 skilled jobs, transforming a derelict site into a new creative and digital campus and a Dover school of art and design. Does my right hon. Friend agree that this is an excellent proposal from Dover District Council, and can he confirm when a decision will be made?