Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Neil O'Brien and Justin Madders

Tuesday 24th January 2023 Commons Chamber

[Neil O’Brien]

That is an excellent question. As well as having an extra 495 staff across Derby and Derbyshire, it is crucial that we use them effectively by having good triage. That is why we are getting NHS England to financially support GPs to move over to better appointment systems. That is not just better phone systems, but better triage.

[Justin Madders (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab)]

T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Neil O'Brien and Justin Madders

Monday 16th May 2022 Commons Chamber

[Neil O’Brien]

I will look very closely at them. I hope that through the very exciting talks that are going on, and through the Hull and East Riding devolution deal, we can pick up many more of the exciting opportunities in the area. Of course, the reviews of Labour’s performance in Hull are so good that it has just been kicked out of the council.

[Justin Madders (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab)]

7. What steps he is taking to deliver long-term funding settlements for the levelling-up agenda.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Neil O'Brien and Justin Madders

Monday 25th October 2021 Commons Chamber

[Justin Madders (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab)]

6. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK community renewal fund on communities with high levels of deprivation.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (Neil O'Brien)]

We are committed to ensuring that the community renewal fund reaches those most in need. To achieve that, we identified 100 priority places across Great Britain based on an index of economic resilience measuring productivity, household income, unemployment, skills and population density. Other places were also able to bid and the assessment process considered both the strategic fit and the deliverability of bids.

[Justin Madders]

Could the Minister tell us, when the pilots have concluded, how the shared prosperity and community renewal funds will interact with levelling-up bids? In future, will there be an overlap? Will it be possible to bid for both? On the levelling-up process, will he meet me to discuss Ellesmere Port’s excellent and ambitious levelling-up fund bid?

[Neil O'Brien]

I would be delighted to meet the hon. Gentleman. As he knows, the community renewal fund is intended to act as an innovative source of funding to try new ways of doing things as we move on from EU structural funds, and to enable us to start working on new ideas ahead of the levelling-up fund.