Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of economic growth in coastal communities.

The Government recognises that many coastal communities face both shared challenges and opportunities. We are committed to ensuring all areas of the UK, including coastal areas, can grow and prosper.

Coastal communities often face higher deprivation and unemployment, and lower average incomes, health outcomes, educational attainment and productivity. Between 2009 and 2018, 71% of coastal towns experienced slower population and employment growth than the England and Wales average[1].

We continue to work with coastal communities to help them level up, with 11 out of 12 Freeports and 7 of 20 Levelling Up Partnerships being in coastal areas. From current major funding programmes, around £1 billion is flowing to projects in coastal areas from the Levelling Up Fund; over £400 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund is going to lead local authorities within or serving coastal areas in England alone, alongside major investment in the other nations; and £75 million extra has been allocated for capital projects in coastal areas as part of announcements at Budget.

[1] Coastal towns in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)