Funding for Levelling Up
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Closed
Inquiry
This inquiry will look at the funds available for levelling-up and how effectively resources are directed to those areas most in need. The Committee’s inquiry will examine questions around the allocation of levelling-up resources and the aim, size and focus of the many different funds available. The inquiry will also …
Read more
14
Recommendations
20
Conclusions
1
Report
5
Oral sessions
32
Letters
5
Events
Activity timeline 44 events
8 Nov
2023
2023
26 Oct
2023
2023
21 Sep
2023
2023
11 Jul
2023
2023
26 May
2023
2023
Report published
27 Apr
2023
2023
25 Apr
2023
2023
29 Mar
2023
2023
14 Mar
2023
2023
14 Mar
2023
2023
21 Feb
2023
2023
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
23 Jan 2023
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Dehenna Davison · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Jessica Blakely · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
12 Dec 2022
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Andy Burnham · Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Andy Street · Mayor of the West Midlands
Dominic McCullough · Northern Ireland Department of Finance
Laura McDonald · Northern Ireland Department of Finance
Maeve Hamilton · Northern Ireland Department for the Economy
Tony Simpson · Northern Ireland Department of Finance
Tracy Brabin MP · Mayor of West Yorkshire
Vaughan Gething MS · Welsh Government
28 Nov 2022
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Councillor Kevin Bentley · Local Government Association
Geoff Raw · Brighton and Hove City Council
Georgina Blakemore · Epping Forest District Council
John Swinney MSP · Scottish Government
Matt O'Neill · Barnsley Council
14 Nov 2022
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Adam Hawksbee · Onward
James Morrison · Robert Gordon University
Paul Swinney · Centre for Cities
Professor Steve Fothergill · Sheffield Hallam University
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sixth Report - Funding for Levelling Up | HC 744 | 26 May 2023 | 34 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
1
Conclusion
Rejected
Sixth Report - Funding for Levelli…
DLUHC lacks clear oversight and understanding of Levelling Up funding contributions.
We are yet to see any evidence of sustained joint working between Departments, and the coordination of the various funding pots they control, which are intended to contribute towards the ambitions of the Levelling Up White Paper. The Department for …
Read more
Government Response
The government explicitly disagrees with the committee's conclusion, stating that Levelling Up is a whole-of-government mission where all spending contributes. It highlights extensive joint working across departments and with local actors through various initiatives, including devolution deals, partnerships, and Investment Zones.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
2
Conclusion
Rejected
Sixth Report - Funding for Levelli…
Levelling Up funds fail to replace significant reductions in local authority revenue.
Local authorities’ revenue funding has reduced significantly since 2010. Levelling up funds generally do not replace grant funding because first they are capital not revenue and; second, because they cover specific projects rather than necessarily covering the priorities of the …
Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the committee's conclusion, stating that local government's Core Spending Power has seen a real terms increase between 2019-20 and 2023-24. It clarifies that Levelling Up funds are not intended to duplicate core funding and cites the UKSPF as a predominantly revenue-based programme that offers local authorities flexibility.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
3
Recommendation
Rejected
Sixth Report - Funding for Levelli…
Require Government departments to identify and DLUHC to clarify Levelling Up funding contributions.
If Levelling Up is to remain the Government’s flagship policy, as it has described it, its delivery must involve greater co-ordination and oversight across Government where applicable. The Government must get to grips with setting out which funding streams are …
Read more
Government Response
The government explicitly rejects the recommendation for greater co-ordination and oversight and for setting out specific funding streams contributing to levelling up, arguing it's a whole-of-government mission where such categorisation would be misleading. They assert that sustained joint working already exists, citing numerous initiatives and devolution deals.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
12
Conclusion
Rejected
Sixth Report - Funding for Levelli…
Additional metrics for Levelling Up Fund applications undermined trust and transparency.
A further concern regarding the distribution of competitive funding was the additional metrics for success applied to once applications had closed in round two of the Levelling Up Fund. This was signally unhelpful for perceptions of trust and transparency and …
Read more
Government Response
The government denies that additional metrics were applied after applications closed in round two, stating the decision-making framework and all five wider considerations were outlined in the published Prospectus and Technical Note prior to submissions. They assert a robust and transparent process was followed.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
16
Conclusion
Rejected
Sixth Report - Funding for Levelli…
DLUHC's decision to abandon IMD and use unclear data metrics is problematic.
The Index for Multiple Deprivation (IMD) has for a long time been widely considered to be the most efficient way of determining ‘need’. As such, we do not agree with the DLUHC’s decision to move away from the use of …
Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the premise that IMD is a 'one size fits all' solution, stating their chosen indicators align better with Levelling Up Fund interventions. They clarify that methodology notes and links to data sets for both rounds are publicly available on gov.uk, including a proprietary commercial vacancy rate made public.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
23
Conclusion
Rejected
Sixth Report - Funding for Levelli…
UK Shared Prosperity Fund consistently reported as insufficient replacement for EU funding
We have heard from representatives from the Welsh and Scottish Governments, officials from Northern Ireland, and from English local authorities, all of which have said that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) was not a sufficient replacement for previous European …
Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the conclusion that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund is not a sufficient replacement for EU funding, stating that total UK-wide funding will at least match previous EU structural fund receipts by 2024-25. They explain their calculation methodology and highlight engagement with devolved administrations on bespoke allocation.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
Correspondence 32 letters
8 Nov 2023
To committee
Letter from the Secretary of State concerning the Committee’s report into funding for levelling up, dated 13 October 2023
Parliament page
21 Sep 2023
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State dated 19 September 2023 concerning the Government response to the Committee's report into Funding for Levelling Up
Parliament page
11 Jul 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 5 July 2023 concerning the funding landscape for local authorities
Parliament page
27 Apr 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 24 April 2023 concerning DLUHC capital delegation with the Treasury
Parliament page
25 Apr 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 21 April 2023 concerning the Northern Ireland UK Shared Prosperity Fund Investment Plan
Parliament page
29 Mar 2023
To committee
Letter from the Permanent Secretaries of the Northern Ireland Department of Finance and Department for the Economy to the Chair dated 24 March 2023 concerning funding for levelling up in Northern Ireland
Parliament page
14 Mar 2023
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Levelling Up dated 13 March concerning the Northern Ireland Investment Plan
Parliament page
14 Mar 2023
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Levelling Up dated 13 March concerning capital spending
Parliament page
21 Feb 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 14 February 2023 following up her appearance before the Committee on 23 January
Parliament page
7 Feb 2023
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Levelling Up dated 6 February 2023 concerning the logistics of Government levelling up policy
Parliament page
24 Jan 2023
To committee
Letter from the DLUHC Permanent Secretary to the Chair dated 23 January 2023 concerning Levelling Up Funding Round 2
Parliament page
24 Jan 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 19 January 2023 concerning the announcement of Levelling Up Funding Round 2
Parliament page
23 Jan 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 20 January 2023 concerning levelling up funding and the Spatial Data Unit
Parliament page
17 Jan 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Economy, Welsh Government, to the Chair dated 9 January 2023 concerning funding for levelling up
Parliament page
10 Jan 2023
To committee
Letter from the Chairman of the Local Government Association People and Places Board to the Chair dated 19 December 2022 concerning funding for levelling up
Parliament page
10 Jan 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 20 December 2022 concerning the announcement of Round 2 of levelling up funding
Parliament page
10 Jan 2023
To committee
Letter from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery, Scottish Government, to the Chair dated 13 December 2022 concerning funding for levelling up
Parliament page
13 Dec 2022
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 8 December 2022 concerning funding for levelling up
Parliament page
13 Dec 2022
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 12 December 2022 concerning the Community Ownership Fund
Parliament page
13 Dec 2022
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 5 December 2022 concerning the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
Parliament page
13 Dec 2022
To committee
Letter from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the Chair dated 8 December 2022 concerning funding for levelling up
Parliament page
8 Dec 2022
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Levelling Up dated 6 December 2022 concerning data on funding for levelling up
Parliament page
24 Nov 2022
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 9 November 2022 concerning levelling up funding programmes, with additional spreadsheets
Parliament page
22 Nov 2022
To committee
Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair dated 17 November 2022 concerning Investment Zones
Parliament page
16 Nov 2022
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Economy, Welsh Government, to the Chair dated 14 November 2022 concerning an invitation to give evidence for the inquiry into Funding for Levelling Up
Parliament page
1 Nov 2022
To committee
Letter from the Comptroller and Auditor General to the Chair dated 26 October 2022 concerning funding for levelling up
Parliament page
1 Nov 2022
To committee
Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair dated 20 October 2022 concerning Investment Zones
Parliament page
20 Oct 2022
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Chancellor of the Exchequer dated 18 October 2022 concerning EU structural funds
Parliament page
20 Oct 2022
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling Up dated 12 October 2022 concerning funding for levelling up
Parliament page
20 Oct 2022
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Comptroller and Auditor General dated 12 October 2022 concerning funding for levelling up
Parliament page
20 Oct 2022
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State dated 12 October 2022 concerning Investment Zones
Parliament page
20 Oct 2022
To committee
Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair dated 23 September 2022 concerning Investment Zones
Parliament page