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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the briefing by Maritime UK and the Local Government Association Coastal Special Interest Group entitled Maritime UK: Coastal Powerhouse Manifesto, published in September 2021, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of that briefing's recommendations.

The Government is committed to coastal communities and levelling-up across the UK. Our coastal economies and communities add unique value to the country and offer significant growth potential.

Seven out of the eight English Freeports are in coastal areas, 22 coastal towns are in receipt of Town Deals, and coastal areas will benefit from over £673 million of investment via the Towns Fund. The £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund will unlock further economic growth in coastal communities with all areas of the UK receiving an allocation from the fund.