Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, 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.

As part of its broader decentralisation agenda, the government has been intentionally reducing ring fenced funding streams. We believe that providing councils with the freedom to use funding in a way that responds to local needs and priorities is key to supporting financial sustainability and sound financial management.

DCMS currently administers five funds which are competitively allocated and which include local authorities as recipients. These are:

Cultural Investment Fund

Invests in cultural infrastructure, local museums and neighbourhood libraries to benefit communities across the country.

UK City of Culture

Invites places across the UK to set out their vision for culture-led regeneration and takes place every four years. Awards were made to local authorities to enable them to strengthen their final applications.

5G Testbeds and Trials Programme “Urban Connected Communities Project”

Trials new 5G services and applications to individuals and businesses.

5G Testbeds and Trials Programme “5G Create” scheme

Aims to explore and develop new use-cases and 5G technical capabilities.

Rural Connected Communities competition

Funds 5G research and development projects.