Baroness Valentine

Levelling up is at the heart of the Government’s agenda to build back better after the pandemic and deliver for the people of the UK. The Government will publish a landmark Levelling Up White Paper in the Autumn, articulating how bold new policy interventions will improve opportunity and boost livelihoods across the country as we recover from the pandemic.

I am aware of the strain that many charities are under during this time of financial uncertainty and increased demand on their services. On 8 April, the government announced a £750 million funding package for charities delivering frontline services. Unfortunately not all charities will be able to benefit from this, so they should also consider whether they are eligible for other existing government schemes, such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and deferring VAT payments.

The Schools White Paper: Opportunity for all, published in March 2022, announced that Priority Education Investment Areas will receive a share of around £40 million of funding to address local needs.

The previous Opportunity Areas make up 12 of the 24 Priority Education Investment Areas. They will receive funding to support targeted interventions to improve attainment in literacy and numeracy at key stage 2 and 4, in line with the priorities for each area. Delivery of this support will commence this academic year.

The Schools White Paper: Opportunity for all, published in March 2022, announced that Priority Education Investment Areas will receive a share of around £40 million of funding to address local needs.

The department will publish the distribution of funding in due course.

The Government has well-established ways of working with the food industry during disruption to supply situations. Our retailers already have highly resilient supply chains and they are working around the clock to ensure people have the food and products they need.

We welcome the efforts of industry to support food banks and front-line charities through donations of food and funds. Additionally, the Government has announced a £3 million fund for food redistribution organisations to prevent good food going to waste.

We are working closely with food banks and food aid charities to understand the impacts the outbreak is having on their operations, to ensure that those who are financially vulnerable have access to essential supplies.

The Government has begun to deliver food parcels to those identified by the NHS as being extremely clinically vulnerable.

We are working quickly to support people who do not fall into the category of being clinically vulnerable, but still need help getting essential food supplies. This could include those who are elderly, disabled or who have health conditions that make it difficult for them to get the food they need.

As stock on shelves begin to replenish many supermarkets have now begun to lift buying restrictions on products to help people shop for others.

The £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centre and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets. The Government launched the prospectus for the Fund at Budget, opening bids UK-wide for the first round of funding starting in 21-22. The prospectus provides guidance to local areas on the process for submitting bids, the types of projects eligible for funding, and how bids will be assessed.

The £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centre and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets. The Government launched the prospectus for the Fund at Budget, opening bids UK-wide for the first round of funding starting in 21-22. The prospectus provides guidance to local areas on the process for submitting bids, the types of projects eligible for funding, and how bids will be assessed.

The Government is committed to levelling up opportunities across the UK, which we will deliver by boosting jobs, wages and prospects for all communities so that everybody gets the same access to opportunities in life. The recent Spending Review confirmed investment to support this agenda, including £220m in 21/22 to support local areas across the UK to pilot programmes and prepare for the introduction for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund; £621m in 21/22 to regenerate towns through the Towns Fund (which includes both the ‘Stronger Towns Fund’ and the Future High Streets Fund); and £4.8bn for the UK-wide Levelling Up fund to invest in local infrastructure that has a visible impact on people and their communities.

We will legislate to introduce a Decent Homes Standard in the private rented sector at the earliest opportunity.

Successful projects for the UK Community Renewal Fund were announced on 3 November.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will help to level up and create opportunity across the UK for places most in need, such as ex-industrial areas, deprived towns and rural and coastal communities, and for people who face labour market barriers.

The Government will publish a UK-wide investment framework in the Spring  and confirm multi-year funding profiles at the next Spending Review.