Mentions:
1: Penny Mordaunt (Con - Portsmouth North) I am sure the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will be concerned to hear - Speech Link
2: Janet Daby (Lab - Lewisham East) Will the Leader of the House ensure that the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities - Speech Link
3: Penny Mordaunt (Con - Portsmouth North) I think that this has been well received in our communities, but of course there is always more we can - Speech Link
4: Penny Mordaunt (Con - Portsmouth North) The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is aware of the action that Barnet Council is - Speech Link
5: Keir Mather (Lab - Selby and Ainsty) The Minister and other coalfield MPs need to hear this story, so can the Leader of the House advise me - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Stewart, Kaukab (SNP - Glasgow Kelvin) including the National Union of Mineworkers, which are developing commemorative activities with the communities - Speech Link
2: Ewing, Annabelle (SNP - Cowdenbeath) Lochore.What support can the Government offer to events such as the one in my constituency and to the former coalfield - Speech Link
3: Constance, Angela (SNP - Almond Valley) The strength of our relationships and engagement with our diverse communities are of particular importance - Speech Link
Asked by: Mochan, Carol (Scottish Labour - South Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the value of the work of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.
Answered by FitzPatrick, Joe - Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning
The Scottish Government’s Regeneration programmes work together to support resilient and sustainable communities, with communities directly involved in decisions on the future of their places. The Scottish Government values Coalfields Regeneration Trust’s (CRT’s) contribution to that approach. Since 1999, the Scottish Government has provided over £28 million in funding to CRT to invest in improving outcomes for coalfield communities.
In 2023/24 funding is being delivered within the context of the most challenging budget settlement since devolution. The Scottish Government is having to make difficult decisions while ensuring it does what is best for communities with the limited resources it has. This is impacting programmes across Government including the Empowering Communities Programme through which CRT is funded and which has been subject to a reduction in budget from 2022-23.
In addition to the dedicated funding for coalfield communities delivered through CRT, the Scottish Government also invests in wider regeneration programmes such as the Investing in Communities Fund and Regeneration Capital Grant Fund. These target our most disadvantaged and fragile communities and continue to support projects in our former coalfield communities.
Mentions:
1: Valerie Vaz (Lab - Walsall South) It is there to keep communities safe and it is worth £60 billion. - Speech Link
2: Dan Carden (Lab - Liverpool, Walton) Those communities have endured neglect, abandonment and contempt for too long. - Speech Link
3: Beth Winter (Lab - Cynon Valley) across south Wales and other coalfield communities. - Speech Link
4: Sarah Edwards (Lab - Tamworth) Our communities are being cut out of conversations around regeneration. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Mel Stride (Con - Central Devon) It is good for the economy, communities and the individuals concerned. - Speech Link
2: Jim McMahon (LAB - Oldham West and Royton) It is part of a wider ecosystem of public services, and it reflects local communities. - Speech Link
3: Jim McMahon (LAB - Oldham West and Royton) We have seen a complete hollowing out of ownership in our communities. - Speech Link
4: Grahame Morris (Lab - Easington) disappointment about the Budget’s failure to address many of the challenges that they and others in former coalfield - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top (Lab - Life peer) My early working life saw those industries in decline, and I worked with people in communities whose - Speech Link
2: Lord Mawson (XB - Life peer) I know she cares a great deal about these issues and the local communities they affect, many of which - Speech Link
3: Lord Bishop of Norwich (Bshp - Bishops) I would argue that the decades-long failure to invest in our former industrial communities is a form - Speech Link
4: Lord Shipley (LD - Life peer) The APPG on Coalfield Communities described this as a Catch-22 situation whereby the private sector will - Speech Link
5: Baroness Swinburne (Con - Life peer) They are also creating high-quality jobs across the UK, right in the communities where they are needed - Speech Link
Mar. 05 2024
Source Page: Information relating to nuclear energy and power in Scotland: EIR releaseFound: delivers affordable, resilient and clean energy supplies for Scotland's households, business and communities
Asked by: Briggs, Miles (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Lothian)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the development of a capital endowment scheme for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust to provide a sustainable income stream to tackle any issues that are facing former coalfield communities without their reliance on the current annual revenue grant.
Answered by FitzPatrick, Joe - Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning
The Deputy First Minister has made clear the very challenging position on the Scottish Government’s capital budget. This is forecast to result in a 9.8% real terms cut in our capital funding over the medium term between 2023-24 and 2027-28.
Through the existing capital investment routes including the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, we have, over a number of years, encouraged the CRT to work with relevant local authorities to bring forward proposals to develop assets, to support community led regeneration while providing an alternative source of income generation for CRT. This is aimed at reducing the Trust’s reliance on revenue grant.
Asked by: Briggs, Miles (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Lothian)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of its decision to reduce the funding for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust on its work in the former coalfield communities.
Answered by FitzPatrick, Joe - Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning
The Scottish Government’s challenging budget position impacts on the budget available for the delivery of the Empowering Communities Programme which supports Coalfield Regeneration Trust’s (CRT’s) grant. Officials advised CRT that we would be unable to deliver funding at the same level as previous years and worked with the Trust to help prioritise their 2023-24 work programme on protecting those elements which have the greatest impact and outcomes for coalfields communities.