Oral Answers to Questions

Stephanie Peacock Excerpts

Monday 27th June 2022 Commons Chamber

[Neil O’Brien]

That is a very important observation. I mentioned some of the huge investments that we are making and the pace that things are moving, but we want them to happen even more quickly. I have a lot of respect for the hon. Member, and if he would like to discuss further how we can make the new roll-out go even faster, I would love to do that.

[Stephanie Peacock (Barnsley East) (Lab)]

14. What recent assessment he has made of the impartiality of criteria used to award levelling-up funds.

[The Minister for Local Government, Faith and Communities (Kemi Badenoch)]

The levelling-up fund targets money at those places that are most in need, using an index that includes metrics such as productivity, skills, unemployment and commercial vacancy rates. In round 1 of the fund, over half the money allocated went to the 20% most deprived local authorities.

[Stephanie Peacock]

I thank the Secretary of State for visiting Barnsley East to meet the Coalfields Regeneration Trust to discuss its regeneration proposals. He will have seen from his visit how, by every measure, Barnsley is deserving of levelling-up funding, so despite our previous two bids being rejected, will he consider Barnsley in the upcoming round?

[Kemi Badenoch]

The hon. Lady will know that the allocation is a completely transparent process. If she wants to find out more about the help sessions for local authorities, we can provide information on how they can improve their bids.