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

To ask Her Majesty's Government why Wirral Council only received 25 per cent of the finance that was awarded to Birkenhead under the Town Deals fund in July 2021.

Birkenhead was awarded £25 million in 2021 for a Town Deal to be delivered over 5 years. This funding will support 10 projects, including the £5.7 million 'Transport Shed' which will create a new transport-based heritage visitor attraction for Merseyside and a £3.5 million 'Wellbeing and Opportunity Hub' serving as a new national Centre of Excellence in how arts and culture can be used to reimagine how mental health is supported and understood. Funding is released annually as projects develop and so far, the town has received over £7.3 million, including £2.25 million of accelerated funding and upfront capital which was made available to kickstart delivery and support towns in the early stages of the programme. We continue to work with Wirral Council and the town to ensure projects are progressing well, on time and to budget.