Supporting local economic growth

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 12 Jan 2022 Closed: 2 Sep 2022 Parliament page
Successive governments have tried to address regional economic disparities and raise productivity through a range of interventions, such as the £12 billion government committed to the Local Growth Fund between 2015-16 and 2020-21. In the 2020 Spending Review, and 2021 Budget, government reiterated its intention to “level up opportunity across … Read more
12 Recommendations
15 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
1 Letter
1 Event
Activity timeline 4 events
2 Sep
2022
Report published
8 Jun
2022
Report published
21 Apr
2022
Correspondence
2 Mar
2022
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
2 Mar 2022
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Supporting local economic growth
Bernadette Kelly CB · Department for Transport Jeremy Pocklington CB · Ministry of Defence Sarah Munby · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Will Garton · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - Local economic growth HC 252 8 Jun 2022 27 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
2 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Local economic grow…
The Department does not yet have a strong understanding of what works for local growth...
The Department does not yet have a strong understanding of what works for local growth but we welcome its belated commitment to evaluating local growth interventions. It is disappointing that, despite billions spent on local growth over many decades, government … Read more
Government Response
The response does not address the recommendation of updating on progress with local growth evaluation commitments, and instead discusses internal performance measures and consultations with the sector.
HM Treasury
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1 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Local economic grow…
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence...
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (the Department), HM Treasury, the Department for Transport and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial … Read more
Government Response
Acknowledges the report and the evidence session, no commitment to action.
HM Treasury
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8 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Local economic grow…
LEPS, the business led-partnerships that have been an important part of the local growth landscape...
LEPS, the business led-partnerships that have been an important part of the local growth landscape over the past decade, will take a back seat going forward as government delivers more funding through local authorities. The Department told us it is … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees but responds by detailing its efforts to consolidate local growth funding through the LUF and UKSPF, and its intention to set out a plan for streamlining the wider funding landscape this year. It also mentions a new Levelling Up Cabinet Committee, but does not address the specifics regarding LEPs or Levelling Up Directors.
HM Treasury
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16 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Local economic grow…
According to its business case, the Department expected to allocate £720 million of the total...
According to its business case, the Department expected to allocate £720 million of the total £4.8 billion budget in the first round of the Levelling Up Fund. In October 2021, government announced 105 successful bids totalling £1.7 billion for the … Read more
Government Response
The government explains the initial planning assumptions and defends its robust assessment process for the Levelling Up Fund's first round, including spending profiles. However, it does not directly address the committee's concern about the lack of clarity for bidders on total funding available per round or potential disadvantages for less experienced local authorities.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 27 of 12 classified
Accepted 4
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 15
Not Addressed 4
Rejected 2
Total 12 recs + 15 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
21 Apr 2022 Correspondence from Bernadette Kelly, Permanent Secretary, Department for Transport, re Supporting local economic growth, dated 30 March 2022
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