6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 6.2 The department recognises that there are several funding programmes at the local level. That is why one of the specific purposes of Town Deals was to allow towns to align different sources of funding to deliver their strategic objectives. This is why the department is supporting the development of Town Investment Plans to set out a long-term vision and strategy and reference other funding streams. 6.3 Part of the town selection methodology was looking for opportunities to align with wider government funding, for example the Local Growth Fund. This ensured that maximum value can be achieved from Towns Fund investments. The department is working closely with other government departments to ensure alignment and places are supported to explore complementary private investment. 6.4 The Towns Fund is a central component of the government strategy to level up the country, alongside the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the Future High Street Fund and the recently announced Levelling Up Fund. 6.5 This is also why the government announced the 2020 Spending Review on 15 December 2020, the Levelling Up Fund, which will be the next step in moving away from a fragmented landscape with multiple different funding streams. This will build on the place-based approach to investment spearheaded by the Towns Fund and will align closely with the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, allowing places to make choices and identify priorities in a coherent, joined up way. It will focus on bids that drive growth and regeneration in places of need, including previously neglected towns. 6.6 The Levelling Up Fund includes £300 million that had previously been set aside for the Towns Fund competition – this will now be run as part of the consolidated fund.