Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans the Ministry has to support economic growth in former coalfield communities; and what discussions he has had with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust on its proposal for £50 million of match-funded capital investment in SME industrial units.

I recognise the excellent work of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, supporting coalfield communities across the country reach their full potential. I met with the Trust recently to hear more about this work and their future ambitions.

Our Pride in Place strategy sets out how we will support the most in-need communities to deliver their local priorities. The £5.8bn Pride in Place programme and the £150m Pride in Place Impact Fund will support many coalfield communities. However beyond these, every part of the country benefits from our wider Pride in Place strategy to put people in control of their neighbourhoods.

We are working to improve high streets through initiatives such as High Street Rental Auctions; the Community Right to Buy, giving communities the chance to take ownership of valued buildings; and streamlining the compulsory purchase process to support regeneration.