Steve Reed

Local authorities will play a vital role, working together with the National Health Service and local care providers, to ensure we make the best possible use of initial supplies of the vaccine. The NHS has identified Senior Responsible Officers to link local authorities and the social care system. The Government will continue to support councils and will ensure everyone who has been clinically prioritised to receive a vaccine will have access as soon as possible.

As of 20 September 2020, NHS Volunteer Responders have undertaken 861,192 tasks since the start of the programme, which went fully live on 7 April 2020.

The following table sets out the number of completed tasks by month from March to September 2020.

Information on Test and Trace contracts is available publicly on https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder

Week by week data is not available.

The contract with Clipper Logistics was put in place by Supply Chain Coordination Ltd (SCCL), the management function of NHS Supply Chain, via a sub-contract with its existing primary logistics supplier. This was for an initial 3 month period from March to June at a value of £1.3m (monthly extensions at estimated values of £450,000) for storage and distribution of PPE to all NHS Trusts. This contract was subsequently varied for a 3 month period from May to July at a value of £1.95m (monthly extensions at estimated values of £650,000) to provide an eCommerce solution involving an eBay platform for the storage and distribution of PPE by Clipper to care homes and GP surgeries.

All upper tier local authorities have access to record level (including sex, age, occupation and postcode) test and case data. Directors of Public Health are also receiving fully identifiable test, case and contact tracing data where the case data includes, address, postcode, sex, age, NHS Number, occupation, test date, and additional data describing progress through the NHS Test and Trace contact tracing process. Public Health England (PHE) provides access to this data via a secure platform to Directors of Public Health to support them to carry out their outbreak management responsibilities. This data is currently updated on a daily basis.

PHE began providing record level positive test data, including postcodes, to local authorities (including Directors of Public Health) on 24 June.

We do not currently hold the information in the format requested.

Deloitte is contracted to provide professional services support to the Department and the National Testing Programme. Deloitte’s role has included setting up testing facilities; coordinating the set-up of home and satellite delivery channels; and designing the digital platform that enables people to book a test and register their kit. Deloitte makes this digital information available to the National Pathology Exchange.

Once results are generated in the labs, the results information also flows to the National Pathology Exchange where the result is matched to the individual’s demographic information. These results are passed to Public Health England every 30 minutes through a data flow. As such, Deloitte does not have a role in the generation of results or the handling of positive case data.

All upper tier local authorities have access to record level test and case data, including sex, age, occupation and postcode. Directors of public health are also receiving fully identifiable test, case and contact tracing data where the case data includes, address, postcode, sex, age, National Health Service number, occupation, test date, and additional data describing progress through the NHS Test and Trace contact tracing process.

These data are collected as management information from the NHS Test and Trace Service. The Department plans to publish information from the first week of the tracing service, on Thursday 11 June.

The Joint Biosecurity Centre is aligned to the CONTAIN strand of the Government’s Test, Trace, Contain and Enable programme. The aim of CONTAIN is to prevent local outbreaks and, where not possible, to contain them locally to minimise the spread of the virus and avoid the need for escalation to a national lockdown.

The JBC/CONTAIN’s regional teams will work closely with local authorities, Local Health Protection Teams and Local Resilience Forums in managing outbreaks of COVID-19 at a local level. Further information on how the JBC will link in with these organisations will be provided in the near future.

The upcoming launch of the Test and Trace Service was announced to local authorities on Friday 22 May as a briefing note, press release and slide pack announcing the service and £300 million to develop local outbreak control plans which tailor the authorities’ response to the virus at the local level.

We have agreed £300 million worth of new dedicated funding to support local authorities with implementing Test and Trace and local outbreak plans.

This money will be allocated shortly following standard procedures.

Alongside financial contributions, the NHS Test and Trace service is developing comprehensive guidance to assist local authorities in developing their own COVID-19 outbreak plans.

The Government is working with e-commerce expertise to roll out a new online portal to help primary care and small social care providers to order critical personal protective equipment (PPE). The PPE Portal acts as an emergency top-up route for health care providers that cannot obtain sufficient PPE through their usual wholesaler routes.

All health and care providers should continue to use their usual wholesaler routes as their primary access route for PPE, whether invited to register with the portal or not.

As of Tuesday 30 June, over 16 million items of PPE have been delivered via the PPE Portal, with over 11,000 orders for PPE having been made.

Local authority staff will be a key part of contact tracing as the NHS Test and Trace service focusing on local outbreak management and this element of the service is being developed jointly between Public Health England and representatives from local government sector organisations.

The priority has always been to ensure that public health bodies, such as Public Health England (PHE), have the data they require under the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations, and under the updates to the Control of Patient Information Regulations, to undertake their vital work in relation to contact tracing, case management and health surveillance. PHE provides the results to the appropriate local PHE Health Protection Team, who work with their respective local authorities as part of their routine public health response arrangements. We are developing a solution for our stakeholders to access the additional Management Information data that will further support their work, and local authorities and the National Health Service are top priorities.

The personal protective equipment (PPE) Portal has now been rolled out to general practitioners and small social care providers in all local authorities in England, totalling over 21,000 providers and delivering over 22 million items of PPE. Originally, the pilot involved inviting small groups of healthcare providers to register with the portal from the following local resilience forum (LRF) areas:

- Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly;

- Northumbria;

- Nottinghamshire;

- Hertfordshire; and

- Thames Valley.

As the LRFs are based on police areas, the list above does not correspond to local authority boundaries. For example, Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland local authorities are all within Northumbria LRF.

Information is not available in the format requested.

The Department’s most recent assessment looked at actual data on surcharge-payers’ use of the National Health Service between April 2015 and September 2019 and their length of stay in the United Kingdom. This estimated the total costs to the NHS of treating the average surcharge-payer to be around £624 per person per annum.

Clinical commissioning groups (CCG) should ensure that commissioning arrangements are adequate to provide the ongoing support essential to the safety of vulnerable children whilst in school.

NHS England have advised that CCG Chief Operating Officers are now co-signatories for Local Safeguarding Partnership plans which should include collaborative governance processes and partnership solutions for the commissioning arrangements for children with special needs.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member the Member for St Albans on 3 February 2020, UIN 9144.

https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-01-28/9144/

Fifteen National Health Service buildings are currently understood to have High Pressure Laminate cladding and these are being reviewed to determine their specific situation.

The safety of patients, visitors and staff has always been the top priority of the National Health Service. Guidance on fire safety is provided to the NHS through the Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 05 series - Firecode.

The BS 8414 test methods were developed by the British Standards Institute in conjunction with the Building Research Establishment and they evaluate whether a cladding system subject to fire breaking out of an opening (such as a window) in an external wall, will result in excessive fire spread via the outside of the building and the potential for fire to re-enter at a higher level. The BS 8414 test and associated pass/fail guidance represents one route by which cladding systems may be judged as meeting the necessary standards in certain circumstances. However other means of demonstrating compliance with the required standard may be equally valid. Cladding systems used in the NHS should meet the requirements of the Building Regulations.

Fifteen NHS buildings are currently understood to have High Pressure Laminate cladding and these are being reviewed to determine their specific situation.

The safety of patients, visitors and staff has always been the top priority of the National Health Service. Guidance on fire safety is provided to the NHS through the Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 05 series - Firecode.

The BS 8414 test methods were developed by the British Standards Institute in conjunction with the Building Research Establishment and they evaluate whether a cladding system subject to fire breaking out of an opening (such as a window) in an external wall, will result in excessive fire spread via the outside of the building and the potential for fire to re-enter at a higher level. The BS 8414 test and associated pass/fail guidance represents one route by which cladding systems may be judged as meeting the necessary standards in certain circumstances. However other means of demonstrating compliance with the required standard may be equally valid. Cladding systems used in the NHS should meet the requirements of the Building Regulations.

Fifteen NHS buildings are currently understood to have High Pressure Laminate cladding and these are being reviewed to determine their specific situation.

The safety of patients, visitors and staff has always been the top priority of the National Health Service. Across the National Health Service, there are nine buildings identified as having Aluminium Composite Material cladding. These include residential buildings over two storeys and non-residential ones over 18 metres. This cladding is being remediated by the trusts that are responsible for the buildings.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is currently provided in England through the three-year PrEP Impact Trial. Participation in the trial is on a voluntary basis and it is for clinics and local authorities to decide the number of allocated places they can accept. The Department has held no discussions with representatives from Croydon University Hospital in relation to the pause in recruitment for gay and bisexual men.

Treasury ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.

Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel.

Any new funding for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will have the Barnett formula applied to it in the usual way.

This would be on top of the £8.9 billion of additional funding that we have already confirmed for the devolved administrations in relation to Covid-19.

The estimated cost of the exemption of Capital Gains Tax on gains on the disposal of a person’s main or only residence was £26.7bn for 2017-18. Further information is provided in the official statistics on non-structural tax reliefs that are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/main-tax-expenditures-and-structural-reliefs

As announced on 14 January, HM Treasury is undertaking a review of Air Passenger Duty to ensure regional connectivity is strengthened while meeting the UK’s climate change commitments to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

The government takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously and uses a range of levers at its disposal, including spending, taxation and regulatory policy, to meet its climate and environmental objectives.

The minimum income requirement must be met by all those who are subject to this requirement. However, we recognise some sponsors will have a reduced earning capacity as a result of disability or caring for someone with a disability. Therefore, an applicant who is applying for a spousal visa whose sponsor is in receipt of a specified disability-related benefit, including personal independence payments, will be exempt from meeting the minimum income requirement.

In such cases the sponsor is required to demonstrate adequate maintenance which is equivalent to the Income Support level.

Sponsors will need to show they remain exempt from the minimum income requirement at each application application stage or they will otherwise need then to meet the requirement.

The Home Office has put in place a comprehensive vulnerability strategy to ensure the EU Settlement Scheme is accessible for all, including children in care.

The Home Office has engaged extensively with relevant stakeholders such as the Department for Education, Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Children’s Services to assess the needs of this group and ensure they are supported. That engagement continues, and all parties are committed to ensuring local authorities are supported throughout the process.

The vital role local authorities and health and social care trusts (HSCT) have with regards to looked after children accessing the EU Settlement Scheme has been agreed nationwide. Those responsibilities include the identification of eligible children and the recording of each application made. This includes the outcome status and future plans for converting pre-settled status into settled status.

Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTGs) have been rolled out in one third of local authorities in England and Wales. If a child presents indicators of trafficking in these areas, first responder organisations have a responsibility to make a referral to the ICTG service.

The Home Office will publish its next evaluation of the ICTG service later this year, which will provide further updates on outcomes of the service including the number of children it supports.

The Government is currently considering improvements to the Modern Slavery Act 2015 made by the Independent Review in 2019, which considered Section 48, which makes provision for ICTGs. The Government remains committed to the national roll out of ICTGs.

The Home Office does not hold the data requested and information on the UK’s resident population is a matter for the independent Office for National Statistics. The no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition is applied to the leave of most migrants in the UK as a legitimate means of maintaining and protecting our economic resources.

In those cases where leave has been, or is being, granted for family or private life reasons the NRPF condition can be lifted on application to the Home Office, including for reasons involving the welfare needs of children. In addition, immigration legislation specifically provides for assessments of child welfare needs to take place and support to be provided by a local authority under section 17 of the Children Act 1989.

The available published information on EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) applications and concluded applications by the applicant’s age and nationality to 31 December 2019, can be found in the Home Office’s ‘EU Settlement Scheme quarterly statistics’, statistics tables, tables EUSS_01, EUSS_02 and EUSS_04, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-december-2019.

The Home Office has been engaging with relevant stakeholders such as the Department for Education, Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Children’s Services to assess the needs of looked-after children and care leavers and ensure they are supported.

To support this, guidance about the EUSS to help local authorities and Health and Social Care Trusts understand their responsibilities for supporting looked-after children and care leavers and how to apply has been created and issued.

A New Burdens Assessment has been produced in collaboration with key stakeholders representing local authorities and children’s social services to ensure they are adequately funded to support looked after children and care leavers who are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

The Home Office has been holding monthly teleconferences for local authority staff who are undertaking this work. The teleconferences provide a forum to obtain information, ask questions and raise issues. A designated help line number has also been made available for local authority staff to contact trained caseworkers in the Home Office should they need to discuss any aspect of the EU Settlement Scheme, be it a specific case issue, or a matter of general information.

The available published information on EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) applications and concluded applications by the applicant’s age and nationality to 31 December 2019, can be found in the Home Office’s ‘EU Settlement Scheme quarterly statistics’, statistics tables, tables EUSS_01, EUSS_02 and EUSS_04, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-december-2019.

The Home Office has been engaging with relevant stakeholders such as the Department for Education, Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Children’s Services to assess the needs of looked-after children and care leavers and ensure they are supported.

To support this, guidance about the EUSS to help local authorities and Health and Social Care Trusts understand their responsibilities for supporting looked-after children and care leavers and how to apply has been created and issued.

A New Burdens Assessment has been produced in collaboration with key stakeholders representing local authorities and children’s social services to ensure they are adequately funded to support looked after children and care leavers who are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

The Home Office has been holding monthly teleconferences for local authority staff who are undertaking this work. The teleconferences provide a forum to obtain information, ask questions and raise issues. A designated help line number has also been made available for local authority staff to contact trained caseworkers in the Home Office should they need to discuss any aspect of the EU Settlement Scheme, be it a specific case issue, or a matter of general information.

The available published information on EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) applications and concluded applications by the applicant’s age and nationality to 31 December 2019, can be found in the Home Office’s ‘EU Settlement Scheme quarterly statistics’, statistics tables, tables EUSS_01, EUSS_02 and EUSS_04, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-december-2019.

The Home Office has been engaging with relevant stakeholders such as the Department for Education, Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Children’s Services to assess the needs of looked-after children and care leavers and ensure they are supported.

To support this, guidance about the EUSS to help local authorities and Health and Social Care Trusts understand their responsibilities for supporting looked-after children and care leavers and how to apply has been created and issued.

A New Burdens Assessment has been produced in collaboration with key stakeholders representing local authorities and children’s social services to ensure they are adequately funded to support looked after children and care leavers who are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

The Home Office has been holding monthly teleconferences for local authority staff who are undertaking this work. The teleconferences provide a forum to obtain information, ask questions and raise issues. A designated help line number has also been made available for local authority staff to contact trained caseworkers in the Home Office should they need to discuss any aspect of the EU Settlement Scheme, be it a specific case issue, or a matter of general information.

The response for UINs 311, 312 and 313 were given on 25th June 2020.

The Government recognises the damaging impact that violence and abuse can have on victims, businesses, and the wider community; and we are committed to tackling this issue.

To ensure that our response to retail crime is as robust as possible we work with a wide range of partners through the National Retail Crime Steering Group, including the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and British Retail Consortium.

In addition, we launched a call for evidence on violence and abuse toward shop staff to help strengthen our understanding of the scale and extent of the issue. The call for evidence has now closed and we are carefully analysing the responses before deciding what further action may be required. We intend to publish the government’s response in due course.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for matters relating to faith and religion within Government.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for matters relating to faith and religion within Government.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for matters relating to faith and religion within Government.

As we have stated in our previous responses, we aim to publish a full Regulatory Impact Assessment on the measures as soon as possible.

As we have stated in our previous responses, we aim to publish a full Regulatory Impact Assessment on the measures as soon as possible.

As we have stated in our previous responses, we aim to publish a full Regulatory Impact Assessment on the measures as soon as possible.

Our National Model Design Guide and supporting guidance notes includes reference to the importance of nature and green infrastructure, including easy access for all to open space and natural environments for health and wellbeing and social benefits.

Permitted development rights include the change of use of existing buildings and extending existing buildings upwards, and development is therefore limited by the constraints of the existing site. We therefore do not currently have any plans to introduce a requirement for access to green space for such rights.

The Government has made available an increase in Core Spending Power in England from £49 billion in 2020-21 to up to £51.3 billion in 2021-22, a 4.6% increase in cash terms.

A summary of the responses to all of the questions asked in the consultation are available in the government’s response at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/supporting-housing-delivery-and-public-service-infrastructure/outcome/supporting-housing-delivery-and-public-service-infrastructure-government-response

On 23 April, the Cabinet Secretary wrote to the Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the management of outside interests in the Civil Service

The Committee published this letter on 26 April. It can be found here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/5623/documents/55584/default/

The Cabinet Secretary’s letter sets out a series of steps to improve processes. This programme of work will also take account of any recommendations that emerge from Nigel Boardman’s review

The Civil Service Management Code sets out, at paragraph 4.3.4, the requirement that civil servants must seek permission before accepting any outside employment which might affect their work either directly or indirectly. The applicable principles are those set out in the Business Appointment Rules. The Civil Service Management Code is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-servants-terms-and-conditions

Where the civil servant is a member of the departmental board, any outside employment, as well as other relevant interests will be published as part of the Annual Report and Accounts or other transparency publication.

The Government is committed to tackling climate change, and local authorities have a vital contribution to make. Their unique insight into local opportunities and priorities, their role as place-shapers, and their convening power enable them to drive carbon emissions reductions and develop climate resilient services across their whole area, with co-benefits for better public health and thriving local economies

Tackling emissions at a local level will make an important contribution to the decarbonisation of transport, energy and buildings. As such, many parts of Government work closely with local government to deliver national strategies for carbon reduction effectively at the local level

In 2020 the Government launched the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme, the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and the Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund. In March we announced a further £300 million under the Green Homes Grant, to help lower income households cut emissions and save money on bills:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-boosts-energy-efficiency-spending-to-13-billion-with-extra-funding-for-green-homes

The Local Energy programme also supports Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), local authorities and communities in England to play a leading role in decarbonisation and clean growth. The Government's wider plan to work with local government to deliver national strategies for carbon reduction will be set out in our forthcoming net zero strategy

The Government will also publish a bold and ambitious Transport Decarbonisation Plan which will set out how to achieve net zero emissions across all modes of transport, and a Heat and Building Strategy setting out how local authorities can contribute to reducing emissions from household heating. Different decarbonisation solutions will be required and will work best in different places across the UK, and we have engaged with local government at all levels in developing these strategies

The Government will continue to work closely with local authorities, now and over the course of the net zero transition.

We do not hold data on how many premises change use to Class E. Change of use within Class E does not require planning permission.

As we stated in our previous response, we aim to publish an impact assessment on the measures as soon as possible in accordance with the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015. It will be a full regulatory impact assessment.

MPs are members of Town Deal Boards and they are permitted to chair those boards, provided that there is local agreement. In general, however, Town Deal Boards have chosen to appoint private sector chairs. The Towns Fund Prospectus and further guidance published by the department both provide further detail on the role and responsibilities of the Town Deal Board Chair.

Governance reviews are carried out for all Town Deal Boards prior to offering Town Deals. Where any recommendations are made, they must be actioned before Heads of Terms are signed for those deals. The reviews are an internal process carried out by MHCLG officials and there are no plans to publish them.

The Planning for the Future White Paper proposes significant changes to the focus and processes of planning, to secure better outcomes - including improving our precious countryside and environment, and increasing the supply of land for new, beautiful homes, and sustainable places

Our consultation received over 44,000 responses - showing just how important this is to people. We will publish a response setting out our decisions on the proposed way forward, ahead of introducing legislation.

On appointment, planning Ministers in MHCLG are provided with training regarding their role in dealing with planning casework before they undertake any duties in that regard.

Current Guidance on Planning Propriety Issues was published in 2012. This guidance was reviewed recently, and new guidance is expected to be published shortly.

We are changing the way we support local economic growth to regenerate our town centres and high streets, support individuals into employment, improve local transport links and invest in local culture. At the Budget, we announced the Levelling up Fund which builds on and consolidates prior programmes such as the Local Growth Fund. We will be working with local businesses on the future role of Local Enterprise Partnerships, with a view to announcing more detailed plans ahead of summer recess.

The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2021/22 confirmed that Core Spending Power is forecast to rise by 4.6% in cash terms - a real terms increase. We are also rolling forward £1.4 billion of Social Care Grant funding from 2020-21. To this, we are adding £300 million of further funding, taking the total Social Care Grant to £1.7 billion. Councils will also have access to almost an additional £800 million through a 3% Adult Social Care precept. This is on top of continuation of all existing social care funding, including £2.1 billion of the improved Better Care Fund

Complementing this is an unprecedented package of support for local authorities to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, including £4.6 billion of un-ringfenced funding for Covid-19 pressures in 2020/21 and an additional £1.55 billion of un-ringfenced funding for Covid pressures in 2021/22, including social care

We are now preparing for another Spending Review, which will be an opportunity to look at inflationary and demographic pressures and new service requirements – to ensure sector sustainability across the full Spending Review period.

Where required, Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published on the gov.uk website:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/956236/Ministerial_meetings_July_to_Sept_2020.csv/preview

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mhclg-special-advisers-gifts-hospitality-and-meetings-july-to-september-2020

Where required, Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published on the gov.uk website:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/956236/Ministerial_meetings_July_to_Sept_2020.csv/preview

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mhclg-special-advisers-gifts-hospitality-and-meetings-july-to-september-2020

The Department has procedures in place for the declaration of conflicts of interests which includes a requirement to declare remuneration for paid work for organisations or companies outside of Government in line with the Civil Service Code. Where the civil servant is a member of the Departmental Board any outside employment, as well as other relevant interests, will be published as part of the Annual Report and Accounts or other transparency publication. For more junior posts, this information is held within the Department.

The Spending Review established a set of provisional priority outcomes and metrics across all departments and policy areas which have been published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spending-review-2020-documents . This includes an outcome to “raise productivity and empower places so that everyone across the country can benefit from levelling up”. These outcomes are now being embedded by departments into Outcome Delivery Plans, which will set out strategy and planning information for delivering the priority outcomes and for delivering on strategic “enabling” activities that are crucial to successful delivery. We continue to work with Departments x-govt to design and deliver our approach to levelling up.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund will help to level up and create opportunity across the UK in places most in need, such as ex-industrial areas, deprived towns and rural and coastal communities, and for people who face labour market barriers.

Officials have held 26 engagement events on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, attended by over five hundred representatives from a breadth of sectors including businesses, public bodies, higher education institutions, voluntary and charity sector and rural partnership groups. We will continue to engage stakeholders as we consolidate policy development for UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund will help to level up and create opportunity across the UK in places most in need, such as ex-industrial areas, deprived towns and rural and coastal communities, and for people who face labour market barriers.

Officials have held 26 engagement events on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, attended by over five hundred representatives from a breadth of sectors including businesses, public bodies, higher education institutions, voluntary and charity sector and rural partnership groups. We will continue to engage stakeholders as we consolidate policy development for UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund will help to level up and create opportunity across the UK for people and places.

A portion of the Fund will target places most in need across the UK, such as ex-industrial areas, deprived towns and rural and coastal communities. It will support people and communities, opening up new opportunities and spurring regeneration and innovation.

A second portion of the Fund will be targeted differently to people most in need through bespoke employment and skills programmes that are tailored to local need. This will support improved employment outcomes for those in and out of work in specific cohorts of people who face labour market barriers.

The Government will set out further details of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in a UK-wide investment framework published later in 2021.

We aim to publish an Impact Assessment on the measures as soon as possible in accordance with the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015.

We aim to publish an Impact Assessment on the measures as soon as possible in accordance with the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015.

The Levelling Up Fund will invest in local infrastructure that will have a visible impact on people and their communities. The Government regularly engages with a wide range of stakeholders as part of ongoing work to support local economic growth as we recover from Covid-19.

As part of putting together proposals, it is important that bidding authorities consult a range of local stakeholders across the full geography of a place in developing their proposed investments for the Fund.

The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets.

The prospectus published at Budget provides guidance for local areas on how to submit bids for the first round of funding for projects starting in 2021-22. This includes guidance on the process for submitting bids, the types of projects eligible for funding, and how bids will be assessed.

Levelling up all areas of the country remains at the centre of government’s agenda. We want to devolve and decentralise to give more power to local communities, providing an opportunity for all places to level up. That is why we intend to bring forward a White Paper in due course, setting out our plans for devolution and detailing how the UK government will partner with places across the UK to build a sustainable economic recovery.

The Town Deal Board is the vehicle through which the vision and strategy for the town is defined and is responsible for producing the Town Investment Plan. Town Deal Boards have all generally appointed a private sector chair, as set out in the Towns Fund Prospectus and the Towns Fund further guidance published by the department provides further detail on the roles and responsibilities of the Town Deal Board Chair.

As set out in the Towns Fund further guidance, we expect the Town Deal Board to align with the governance standards and policies of the town’s lead council. This should include clear processes for managing conflicts of interests and guidance on the declaration of pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests and exemptions. All Town Deal Board members must sign a code of conduct based on the Seven Nolan Principles and the lead council is required to publish the board’s governance and decision-making structures.

My officials have carried out governance reviews for all Town Deal Boards as part of the Town Investment Plan assessment process, where relevant making recommendations for improvements and monitoring implementation.

Our Towns Fund Delivery Partner is also supporting Town Deal Board’s through a leadership training programme which will promote good practice in Town Deal Board’s and governance structures beyond the Town Fund.

Once Heads of Terms are agreed between the department and towns for all Town Deals, the department plans to publish these on GOV.UK. Towns are also expected to publish the Heads of Terms on the lead local authority website.

The consultation on ‘Planning for the Future’ closed on 29 October 2020, and received over 44,000 responses, showing the significant interest the reforms generated. We received views from across the sector, including from local authorities, the private sector, community groups, and large numbers of individuals. We also held a series of roundtables with key stakeholder groups, and officials attended over sixty events run by external organisations.

We are considering all of this feedback carefully, and will publish our response setting out the proposed way forward. We anticipate introducing legislation to deliver aspects of the reforms and will continue to engage with the range of interests involved the planning system as our proposals are developed further.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government estimates the following income in each of the next five years for the provision of sites for telecommunications infrastructure:

No meetings have taken place between Ministers in the Department and representatives of the Speed Up Britain Campaign. To ascertain if any officials from the Department have met with this organisation would require an extensive search of records, which would incur disproportionate cost.

Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on Gov.uk.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government received the following income in each of the last five years for the provision of sites for telecommunications infrastructure:

On Saturday 20 March we announced the £56 million Welcome Back Fund to support local authorities and their business communities to reopen safely and successfully as lockdown restrictions ease. This funding builds on the £50 million Reopening High Streets Safely Fund announced in May 2020, doubling original funding allocations with an additional £6 million for coastal communities given the unique challenges they face. The full list of Welcome Back Fund allocations can be found on Gov.uk .

The Cities and Local Growth Unit sits across two Departments, reporting jointly into the MHCLG and BEIS Secretaries of State. In each of the last five years, MHCLG FTE employed in the Cities and Local Growth Unit is detailed in following chart.

The Cities and Local Growth Unit works across two Departments, reporting jointly into the MHCLG and BEIS Secretaries of State.

As of 28 February 2021, the most recent date for which data is available, the Unit employed 379.6 FTE MHCLG staff.

The Electronic Communications Code (ECC) is the legal framework underpinning rights to install and maintain digital communications infrastructure on public and private land. The Code was substantially reformed in 2017 and a key aim of those reforms was to make it cheaper and easier for digital infrastructure to be deployed, maintained and upgraded. Government recognised that this would mean site providers receiving lower payments for allowing their land or buildings to be used for these purposes than had previously been the case. However, these changes were only introduced following an extensive period of consultation and research, and were considered necessary to reduce operator costs and encourage the industry investment required for the UK to get the digital communications infrastructure it needs. The initial impact assessment for the ECC has been published at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/524895/ECC_Impact_Assessment.pdf.

The majority of Code agreements are negotiated by mutual consent between operators and site providers. Where acceptable terms cannot be agreed operators may apply to the Lands Tribunal for the determination of any disputed matter, including the financial terms. In these cases, the Tribunal will have regard to the statutory valuation regime contained within the Code in determining the amount that should be paid. The Government has recently consulted on whether further changes to the Code are needed and is currently considering the responses to that consultation.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government collects and publishes annual data returns from local authorities in England. These figures can be found in the individual local authority data at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing. We do not collect data on the ECC or revenue from site rentals for telecommunications infrastructure in these returns. The financial position of councils in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the relevant devolved administration

Ministers and officials from MHCLG have regular discussions with counterparts in other government departments on matters relating to local government.

The Electronic Communications Code (ECC) is the legal framework underpinning rights to install and maintain digital communications infrastructure on public and private land. The Code was substantially reformed in 2017 and a key aim of those reforms was to make it cheaper and easier for digital infrastructure to be deployed, maintained and upgraded. Government recognised that this would mean site providers receiving lower payments for allowing their land or buildings to be used for these purposes than had previously been the case. However, these changes were only introduced following an extensive period of consultation and research, and were considered necessary to reduce operator costs and encourage the industry investment required for the UK to get the digital communications infrastructure it needs. The initial impact assessment for the ECC has been published at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/524895/ECC_Impact_Assessment.pdf.

The majority of Code agreements are negotiated by mutual consent between operators and site providers. Where acceptable terms cannot be agreed operators may apply to the Lands Tribunal for the determination of any disputed matter, including the financial terms. In these cases, the Tribunal will have regard to the statutory valuation regime contained within the Code in determining the amount that should be paid. The Government has recently consulted on whether further changes to the Code are needed and is currently considering the responses to that consultation.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government collects and publishes annual data returns from local authorities in England. These figures can be found in the individual local authority data at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing. We do not collect data on the ECC or revenue from site rentals for telecommunications infrastructure in these returns. The financial position of councils in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the relevant devolved administration

Ministers and officials from MHCLG have regular discussions with counterparts in other government departments on matters relating to local government.

The Electronic Communications Code (ECC) is the legal framework underpinning rights to install and maintain digital communications infrastructure on public and private land. The Code was substantially reformed in 2017 and a key aim of those reforms was to make it cheaper and easier for digital infrastructure to be deployed, maintained and upgraded. Government recognised that this would mean site providers receiving lower payments for allowing their land or buildings to be used for these purposes than had previously been the case. However, these changes were only introduced following an extensive period of consultation and research, and were considered necessary to reduce operator costs and encourage the industry investment required for the UK to get the digital communications infrastructure it needs. The initial impact assessment for the ECC has been published at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/524895/ECC_Impact_Assessment.pdf.

The majority of Code agreements are negotiated by mutual consent between operators and site providers. Where acceptable terms cannot be agreed operators may apply to the Lands Tribunal for the determination of any disputed matter, including the financial terms. In these cases, the Tribunal will have regard to the statutory valuation regime contained within the Code in determining the amount that should be paid. The Government has recently consulted on whether further changes to the Code are needed and is currently considering the responses to that consultation.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government collects and publishes annual data returns from local authorities in England. These figures can be found in the individual local authority data at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing. We do not collect data on the ECC or revenue from site rentals for telecommunications infrastructure in these returns. The financial position of councils in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the relevant devolved administration

Ministers and officials from MHCLG have regular discussions with counterparts in other government departments on matters relating to local government.

The Electronic Communications Code (ECC) is the legal framework underpinning rights to install and maintain digital communications infrastructure on public and private land. The Code was substantially reformed in 2017 and a key aim of those reforms was to make it cheaper and easier for digital infrastructure to be deployed, maintained and upgraded. Government recognised that this would mean site providers receiving lower payments for allowing their land or buildings to be used for these purposes than had previously been the case. However, these changes were only introduced following an extensive period of consultation and research, and were considered necessary to reduce operator costs and encourage the industry investment required for the UK to get the digital communications infrastructure it needs. The initial impact assessment for the ECC has been published at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/524895/ECC_Impact_Assessment.pdf.

The majority of Code agreements are negotiated by mutual consent between operators and site providers. Where acceptable terms cannot be agreed operators may apply to the Lands Tribunal for the determination of any disputed matter, including the financial terms. In these cases, the Tribunal will have regard to the statutory valuation regime contained within the Code in determining the amount that should be paid. The Government has recently consulted on whether further changes to the Code are needed and is currently considering the responses to that consultation.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government collects and publishes annual data returns from local authorities in England. These figures can be found in the individual local authority data at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing. We do not collect data on the ECC or revenue from site rentals for telecommunications infrastructure in these returns. The financial position of councils in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the relevant devolved administration

Ministers and officials from MHCLG have regular discussions with counterparts in other government departments on matters relating to local government.

The Electronic Communications Code (ECC) is the legal framework underpinning rights to install and maintain digital communications infrastructure on public and private land. The Code was substantially reformed in 2017 and a key aim of those reforms was to make it cheaper and easier for digital infrastructure to be deployed, maintained and upgraded. Government recognised that this would mean site providers receiving lower payments for allowing their land or buildings to be used for these purposes than had previously been the case. However, these changes were only introduced following an extensive period of consultation and research, and were considered necessary to reduce operator costs and encourage the industry investment required for the UK to get the digital communications infrastructure it needs. The initial impact assessment for the ECC has been published at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/524895/ECC_Impact_Assessment.pdf.

The majority of Code agreements are negotiated by mutual consent between operators and site providers. Where acceptable terms cannot be agreed operators may apply to the Lands Tribunal for the determination of any disputed matter, including the financial terms. In these cases, the Tribunal will have regard to the statutory valuation regime contained within the Code in determining the amount that should be paid. The Government has recently consulted on whether further changes to the Code are needed and is currently considering the responses to that consultation.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government collects and publishes annual data returns from local authorities in England. These figures can be found in the individual local authority data at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing. We do not collect data on the ECC or revenue from site rentals for telecommunications infrastructure in these returns. The financial position of councils in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the relevant devolved administration

Ministers and officials from MHCLG have regular discussions with counterparts in other government departments on matters relating to local government.

The £3.6 billion Towns Fund will drive the economic regeneration of towns to deliver long-term economic and productivity growth through land use, economic assets including cultural assets, skills and enterprise infrastructure, and connectivity. Full details of the intervention framework can be found in the Towns Fund Further Guidance. The Department will publish its Monitoring and Evaluation strategy in the Spring.

The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets.

The £3.6 billion Towns Fund will drive the economic regeneration of towns to deliver long-term economic and productivity growth through land use, economic assets including cultural assets, skills and enterprise infrastructure, and connectivity. Full details of the intervention framework can be found in the Towns Fund Further Guidance. The Department will publish its Monitoring and Evaluation strategy in the Spring.

The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets.

I refer the hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 168941 on 18 March 2021.

I refer the hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 168941 on 18 March 2021.

The Department is currently collecting data on local authorities' budgets for the 2021/22 financial year. This information is scheduled to be published as usual in June at www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing and www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-capital-expenditure-receipts-and-financing .

In 2019, we invited 101 places to develop proposals for Town Deals. Towns submit these proposals in a Town Investment Plan. Those plans are robustly assessed against a range of criteria, with value for money a central consideration. The funding allocation is based on quality of the Town Investment Plan and the projects it contains. Full details of our assessment are set out in the Towns Fund Further Guidance.

We want to ensure that local authority planning departments are well resourced and that planning professionals have the right skills to make creative decisions and take forward our ambitious proposals for planning reform. Since 2010 we have provided direct grant support to local authorities and Neighbourhood Planning Groups to help them engage their communities in Neighbourhood Planning to shape and influence the places in which they live and work.

The Planning White Paper states that we will explore options to introduce a new planning fee structure to ensure that local planning authorities are properly resourced to improve the speed and quality of their decisions. We will also develop a comprehensive resources and skills strategy for the planning sector to support the implementation of our reforms.

As set out in the Towns Fund further guidance, we expect the Town Deal Board to align with the governance standards and policies of the town’s Lead Council. There should be clear processes for managing conflicts of interests (commercial, actual and potential) in decision-making, which must apply to all involved with the work of the Town Deal Board. The governance and decision-making structures of the Town Deal Board should be made public by the Lead Council.

The Lead Council should also provide guidance on the pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests individuals must declare, outline the process for declaring those interests and explain the process for requesting an exemption. This includes signing a code of conduct based on the Seven Nolan Principles.

My officials have carried out governance reviews for all Town Deal Boards, making recommendations, where relevant, for improvements and monitoring implementation.

Government has awarded £9.1 billion from the Local Growth Fund to local areas via three rounds of Growth Deals with Local Enterprise Partnerships. The remaining elements relate to Department of Transport and Department for Education projects as well as MHCLG housing programmes including long-term housing transactions through the Home Building Fund, and pre-commitments for the Regional Growth Fund.

The Government publishes called in decisions and recovered appeals on gov.uk, and they are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/planning-applications-called-in-decisions-and-recovered-appeals#recovered-planning-appeals .

I refer the hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 168945 on 18 March.

I refer the Hon. Member to my previous Answer of 12 March 2021 to Question UIN 165560.

Since the start of the pandemic the Government has allocated over £8 billion directly to councils for their expenditure pressures. According to our monthly financial monitoring returns, estimated expenditure pressures for the financial year are £7.3 billion. The Chancellor announced at the Spending Review that local authorities will be provided with over £3 billion of additional support for COVID-19 in 2021-22, taking total COVID support to over £11 billion

Core Spending Power increased from £46.2 billion in 2019-20 to £49 billion in 2020-21, a 6% increase in cash terms, and then to £51.3 billion in 2021-22, a 4.6% increase in cash terms. This recognises the resources councils need to meet their pressures, including foregone efficiency savings, and maintain current service levels.

The prospectuses published at Budget for the Levelling Up Fund and Community Renewal Fund provide guidance for local areas on how to submit bids for funding for projects starting in 2021-22. This includes guidance on the process for submitting bids, the types of projects eligible for funding and how bids will be assessed.

We have published the index and further details of the methodology used to calculate the index of places set out in the Levelling Up Fund prospectus: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-fund-additional-documents.

A methodological note explaining how the 100 priority places were determined for the UK Community Renewal Fund has also been published: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus/uk-community-renewal-fund-prioritisation-of-places-methodology-note.

The UK Government is providing an additional £220 million funding through the UK Community Renewal Fund to help local areas prepare for the launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in 2022. The Fund aims to support people and communities most in need across the UK to pilot programmes and new approaches and will invest in skills, community and place, local business, and supporting people into employment.

Through this Fund, we will establish new ways of working between the UK Government and places across the UK. The UK Government will work more directly with local partners and communities across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, who are best placed to understand the needs of their local areas and more closely aligned to the local economic geographies to deliver quickly on the ground.

The Government has been engaging with key stakeholders on the design and priorities of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund since 2016, including holding a series of engagement events.  Our engagement events have taken place across the UK. Over 500 stakeholders attended these events across a variety of sectors, including representatives from local government.

We will continue to engage stakeholders as we consolidate policy development for UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The 45 towns which were offered Town Deals on 3 March are currently reviewing their prospective Deals. Once towns have accepted their Town Deal offers, Heads of Terms are signed and then also published on local authority websites, which include the details of projects MHCLG has agreed to fund.

As set out in the prospectus published at Budget, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration. We have published the index and further details of the methodology used to calculate the index of places set out in the prospectus: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-fund-additional-documents.

While preference will be given to bids from higher priority areas, the bandings do not represent eligibility criteria, nor the amount or number of bids a place can submit. Bids from categories 2 and 3 will still be considered for funding on their merits of deliverability, value for money and strategic fit, and could still be successful if they are of exceptionality high quality.

As set out in the prospectus published at Budget, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration. We have published the index and further details of the methodology used to calculate the index of places set out in the prospectus: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-fund-additional-documents.

While preference will be given to bids from higher priority areas, the bandings do not represent eligibility criteria, nor the amount or number of bids a place can submit. Bids from categories 2 and 3 will still be considered for funding on their merits of deliverability, value for money and strategic fit, and could still be successful if they are of exceptionality high quality.

The Towns Fund is helping level up the country, driving economic regeneration, productivity and growth.

The Government’s approach to considering equalities impacts is set out in both the Towns Fund Prospectus, published in November 2019 and the Further Guidance published in June 2020.

All local authorities are required to consider the equalities impacts of their proposals as part of the Public Sector Equality Duty. In the guidance we also made clear the responsibilities of the Town Deal Board to fulfil duties on public authorities under the Equalities Act 2010.

The Department has not commissioned research into public attitudes on the levelling up agenda by external polling or communications agencies.

As set out in the prospectus published at Budget, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration.

We have published the index and further details of the methodology used to calculate the index of places set out in the prospectus: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-fund-additional-documents .

As set out in the prospectus published at Budget, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration.

We have published the index and further details of the methodology used to calculate the index of places set out in the prospectus: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-fund-additional-documents .

As reaffirmed at the Spending Review, the Government is levelling up opportunity across the UK so that people feel that they can succeed in their local area. The Spending Review established a set of provisional priority outcomes and metrics across all departments and policy areas which have been published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spending-review-2020-documents

These outcomes are now being embedded by departments into Outcome Delivery Plans, which will set out strategy and planning information for delivering the priority outcomes and for delivering on strategic “enabling” activities that are crucial to successful delivery.

No representations have been received concerning this appeal.

The Government’s new Levelling Up Fund (LUF) includes £300 million that had been set aside for a Towns Fund competition. As set out in the LUF prospectus, proposals can be submitted for town centre and regeneration projects from individual or groups of smaller towns that did not receive investment from the Towns Fund.

We recognise that levelling up requires a multi-faceted approach and the Levelling Up Fund is part of a broad package of complementary UK-wide interventions. The Levelling Up Fund will be allocated competitively and is open to all local areas.

As set out in the prospectus published at Budget, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration.

We have published the index and further details of the methodology used to calculate the index of places set out in the prospectus: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-fund-additional-documents .

A delegate at a local government conference had his photograph taken with the Secretary of State on 28 Feb 2020. At no point was an individual planning application raised.

All planning casework decisions are made in line with published propriety guidance. This decision will be taken on the basis of evidence heard at a public inquiry overseen by an independent planning Inspector, and the reasons for it will be set out in a published decision letter.

The UK Government is providing an additional £220 million funding through the UK Community Renewal Fund to help local areas prepare for the launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This Fund aims to support people and communities most in need across the UK to pilot programmes and new approaches. It will invest in skills, community and place, local business, and supporting people into employment.

We are reserving up to £14 million of the Fund as capacity funding to support local places to prepare for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. As set out in the prospectus, we will set out details on how this capacity funding will be distributed later this year. The allocation of capacity funding under the UK Community Renewal Fund does not pre-determine the allocation approach for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Towns will be able to benefit from the £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund (LUF), which will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets. The LUF prospectus published at Budget provides guidance for local areas on how to submit bids for the first round of funding for projects starting in 2021-22.

As set out in the prospectus, proposals can be submitted for town centre and regeneration projects from individual or groups of smaller towns that did not receive investment from the Towns Fund.

The Levelling Up Fund will invest in local infrastructure that will have a visible impact on people and their communities.. The Government regularly engages with a wide range of stakeholders as part of ongoing work to support local economic growth as we recover from Covid-19.

Every Town Investment Plan we receive is robustly assessed against a range of criteria, with value for money a central consideration. Full details of our assessment are set out in the Towns Fund Further Guidance, which can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/926422/Towns_Fund_further_guidance.pdf

Funding is distributed through local authorities who are the accountable body. Local authorities have their own comprehensive processes in place for managing public money. Funding for projects will only be released when full, green book compliant, business cases have been approved.

The Department will publish its monitoring and evaluation strategy for the Towns Fund in due course.

This appeal was recovered for Ministerial decision by officials under delegated powers, with no Ministerial involvement. Decisions on recovering appeals are made in accordance with the Written Ministerial Statement of June 2008. This appeal was recovered as being residential development of over 150 units or on sites of over five hectares, which would significantly impact on the Government’s objective to secure a better balance between housing demand and supply and create high quality, sustainable, mixed and inclusive communities. A public inquiry into the scheme will be held in May, overseen by an independent planning Inspector, who will prepare a report and recommendation for Ministers. That will be published alongside the final decision.

The Levelling Up Fund prospectus sets out the Government’s approach to considering equalities impacts. The prospectus notes that to ensure we are considering the potential impact of funding on individuals with protected characteristics, we will give due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty at key decision points and will seek information from applicants and lead authorities to support this process.

The prospectuses published at Budget for the Levelling Up Fund and Community Renewal Fund provide guidance for local areas on how to submit bids for funding for projects starting in 2021-22. This includes guidance on the process for submitting bids, the types of projects eligible for funding and how bids will be assessed.

In designing new programmes, it is important to learn lessons and we have worked closely with stakeholders and professionals across Government to understand how we can design funds which meet our priorities and take in to account our legal responsibilities.

The department follows the principles set out in Managing Public Money for all of its policies and programmes.

The department follows the principles set out in Managing Public Money for all of its policies and programmes.

As set out in the prospectus published at Budget, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration. We have published the index and further details of the methodology used to calculate the index of places set out in the prospectus: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-fund-additional-documents . This also sets out the steps the departments took to finalise the index.

The Government recognises the important role of Members of Parliament in championing the interests of their constituents. We expect bidding authorities to consult local Members of Parliament as part of their bid, though such support from local Members of Parliament is not a necessary condition for a successful bid. Members of Parliament can have a positive role in prioritising bids and helping broker local consensus.

As set out in the prospectus published on 3 March, we have identified 100 priority places based on an index of economic resilience across Great Britain which measures productivity, household income, unemployment, skills and population density.

The lead authority of each of the 100 priority places will receive capacity funding to help them invite bids locally and appraise these bids. Each lead authority will receive £20,000 per priority place. This funding can be incurred from April 2021 for staff or other resources needed to coordinate and appraise bids. It will be paid to lead authorities in the summer and will be paid regardless of whether bids are successful.

We are committed to transparency and a methodological note will be published explaining how the index of economic resilience was developed.

A portion of the Community Renewal Fund will be reserved for capacity funding, to be allocated to local partners for preparation for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This will be made available when the long-term allocation profile for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund is published later this year. We will also set out details on how this capacity funding will be distributed at this time. The allocation of capacity funding under the UK Community Renewal Fund does not pre-determine the allocation approach for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund will be a flagship policy in delivering this Government’s commitment to level up the country and will target the people and places most in need across the UK. It will be focused on our domestic priorities and seize the opportunities that come from our departure from the EU and the bureaucracy of EU structural funds.

Spending Review 2020 set out the main strategic elements of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in the Heads of Terms.  We will publish further details about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in a UK-wide Investment Framework later in 2021 and its funding profile will be set out at the next Spending Review.

As set out in the prospectus published last week, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration. We will shortly publish further detail on the methodology used to calculate the index.

As set out in the prospectus published last week, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration. We will shortly publish further detail on the methodology used to calculate the index.

As set out in the prospectus published last week, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration. We will shortly publish further detail on the methodology used to calculate the index.

At Budget 2021, the UK Government published a prospectus for the UK Community Renewal Fund: an additional £220 million funding for 2021/22 to help local areas prepare for the launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in 2022.

The UK Community Renewal Fund aims to support people and communities most in need across the UK to pilot programmes and new approaches. It will invest in skills, community and place, local business, and supporting people into employment.

As set out in the prospectus published on 3 March, we have identified 100 priority places based on an index of economic resilience across Great Britain which measures productivity, household income, unemployment, skills and population density. We are committed to transparency and a methodological note will be published explaining how the index of economic resilience was developed.

As set out in the prospectus published at Budget, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration. We will shortly publish further detail on the methodology used to calculate the index

The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets.

The Fund will be allocated competitively. The prospectus published at Budget provides guidance for local areas on how to submit bids for the first round of funding for projects starting in 2021-22. This includes information on the process for submitting bids, the types of projects eligible for funding, and how bids will be assessed. Further guidance and templates for bid submissions will be published shortly.

The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets.

The Fund will be allocated competitively. The prospectus published at Budget provides guidance for local areas on how to submit bids for the first round of funding for projects starting in 2021-22. This includes information on the process for submitting bids, the types of projects eligible for funding, and how bids will be assessed. Further guidance and templates for bid submissions will be published shortly.

My officials are currently conducting assessment of the final set of Town Investment Plans and I look forward to making further announcements in due course.

Town Deal Boards are central to the success of the Towns Fund. They bring together local businesses, community and public sector organisations to develop a joint vision and strategy for the Town. The majority of Town Deal Boards are chaired by business people and details are published on the relevant local authority websites.

As we have set out in the Towns Fund Further Guidance, the final Town Investment Plan should be published on the Lead Council’s website (or a Town Deal specific website). Once towns have accepted their Town Deal offers, Heads of Terms are signed and then also published on local authority websites.

My officials are currently conducting assessment of the final set of Town Investment Plans and I look forward to making further announcements in due course.

The Levelling Up Fund will invest in local infrastructure that has a visible impact on people and their communities. Further details of how the Fund will operate will be announced shortly.

The Local Growth Fund (LGF) supports capital projects designed to deliver local economic growth through Mayoral Combined Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships. The Cities and Local Growth Unit (CLGU), is a joint BEIS and MHCLG civil service team, overseeing LGF alongside other local growth programmes examples of these are the Towns Fund, Coastal Communities Fund and Devolution Deals . It is not therefore possible to provide a breakdown of exact FTE or costs for this programme.

The Levelling Up Fund will invest in local infrastructure that has a visible impact on people and their communities and will support economic recovery. The Fund will be jointly managed by the Treasury, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Department for Transport.

The Local Growth Fund (LGF) supports capital projects designed to deliver local economic growth through Mayoral Combined Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships. The Cities and Local Growth Unit (CLGU), is a joint BEIS and MHCLG civil service team, overseeing LGF alongside other local growth programmes examples of these are the Towns Fund, Coastal Communities Fund and Devolution Deals . It is not therefore possible to provide a breakdown of exact FTE or costs for this programme.

The Levelling Up Fund will invest in local infrastructure that has a visible impact on people and their communities and will support economic recovery. The Fund will be jointly managed by the Treasury, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Department for Transport.

The Levelling Up Fund will invest in local infrastructure that has a visible impact on people and their communities. Further details of how the Fund will operate will be announced shortly.

We have received representations for and against the postponement of local elections due to take place in the areas of Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset on account of proposals for re-organisation, and we are considering those proposals and whether to follow past precedents to postpone local elections for one year in areas where reorganisation is under consideration. An announcement will be made in due course.

Local authorities have now received their individual allocations for the Troubled Families Programme in 2021-22. There are no current plans to publish these. Up to £165 million has been made available for the programme in that year.

The Levelling Up Fund will invest in local infrastructure that has a visible impact on people and their communities and will support economic recovery.

The Fund will be jointly managed by HM Treasury, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Department for Transport.

We will publish a prospectus for the fund early this year.

So far, each of the 101 towns has received capacity funding of £140,000, £162,019 or £173,029 depending on population size. In September 2020, each town also received a capital grant of £500,000, £750,000 or £1 million as part of £81.5 million accelerated funding to help towns respond to the immediate challenges of Covid-19.

In October 2020, we announced offers of Town Deals to the first seven towns. The first payments will be made once full business cases have been agreed for projects within those deals, and paid annually thereafter. This includes projects put forward to be fast-tracked. The majority of the remaining towns have now submitted their Town Investment Plans and these are being assessed by officials in the Department.

Furthermore, on 26 December 2020, we announced that up to £830 million has been allocated from the Future High Streets Fund. 15 areas have been awarded £255 million, with a further 57 areas to receive provisional funding of £576 million. This is a major boost for local high streets. The investment will support areas to recover from the pandemic and help transform underused town centres into vibrant places to live, work and shop.

Adopting the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism sends a clear signal that local authorities are serious about tackling antisemitism in their local communities. The definition is already used in guidance for the Police and Crown Prosecution Service, the Premier League, and a number of political parties, providing examples of the kinds of behaviours which, depending on the circumstances, could constitute antisemitism.

The Secretary of State wrote to all local councils in early 2020 to further encourage those who had not taken this important step to combatting antisemitism in their communities. We are currently compiling the information from local authorities and will encourage those who have not adopted the definition to do as at the earliest opportunity.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will help to level up and create opportunity across the UK for places most in need, such as ex-industrial areas, deprived towns and rural and coastal communities, and for people who face labour market barriers.

In addition, to help local areas prepare over 2021/22 for the introduction of the UKSPF, we will provide additional UK funding to support our communities to pilot programmes and new approaches.

The November 2020 Spending Review set out the main strategic elements of the UKSPF in the Heads of Terms.  The Government will publish a UK-wide investment framework in Spring 2021 and confirm multi-year funding profiles at the next Spending Review. Further details on the operation of the additional funding in 2021/22 will be published soon.

The costs of delivering local elections are met by local authorities. We recognise that delivering local authority services, including elections, safely in the context of the pandemic, will increase costs. We have allocated to councils in England a further £1.55 billion non-ringfenced grant for Covid-19 expenditure pressures and made clear that priorities for use of that funding include additional local election costs as a result of Covid-19.

To extend the facility for councils to continue to meet remotely, or in hybrid form after 7 May 2021 would require primary legislation.

There is no option to extend the current regulations under the Coronavirus Act 2020 as section 78 (3) contains the sunset date of 7 May 2021.

There is considerable pressure on the Government’s legislative programme, but the Government is carefully considering next steps in this area.

Of the 31 holding directions in place as of the 8 January, 3 are no longer in place. There are currently (as at 19 January 2021) 28 Article 31 Holding Directions in place. Directions are often used in respect of controversial or complex planning applications, and the average length of time these 28 Directions have been in place is 132 days. Directions restrict local authorities from granting planning permission for planning applications. They do not prevent authorities from considering applications and forming a view on them. Ministers will generally not consider requests to call applications in until authorities have formed a view on them.

Of the 31 holding directions in place as of the 8 January, 3 are no longer in place. There are currently (as at 18 January 2021) 28 Article 31 holding directions in place, which relate to the following planning applications

Holding directions issued under section 31 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 are not substantive decisions. They are merely a procedural tool which restricts the grant of planning permission by a local authority, and are used to allow Ministerial consideration of requests to call in planning applications. Once a decision on whether to call in an application or not has been made, the direction ceases to have effect.