Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many funds are allocated to local authorities by his Department through a process of competitive bidding; and if he will publish the names of those funds.

Within the Cabinet Office, one fund is allocated to local authorities through a process of competitive bidding.

The One Public Estate programme is a partnership between the Office of Government Property in the Cabinet Office, the Local Government Association, and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). Through better use of land and property, it aims to deliver efficiencies, local economic growth (jobs and homes) and better, more-integrated public services. The programme offers early-stage project funding, support and expertise to cross-public sector projects, led by local authorities.

The One Public Estate programme also delivers the Land Release Fund on behalf of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. This capital fund enables local authorities to bring forward otherwise unviable land for housing development. Funding for the Land Release Fund is awarded to local authorities, through a competitive process, directly by DLUHC.