Oral Answers to Questions

Kirsteen Sullivan Excerpts

Wednesday 15th April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Irene Campbell (North Ayrshire and Arran) (Lab)]

2. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues through the Pride in Place programme to support regeneration in Scotland.

[Kirsteen Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow) (Lab/Co-op)]

5. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues through the Pride in Place programme to support regeneration in Scotland.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Kirsty McNeill)]

Through our ambitious Pride in Place programme, we are empowering local people to shape the future of their neighbourhoods. The Pride in Place impact fund is investing £12 million across Scotland over two years, including £1.5 million in North Ayrshire. We will invest up to £480 million in 24 Scottish communities over the next decade, including £20 million each for the Irvine and Three Towns neighbourhoods in North Ayrshire, and for the Fauldhouse, Whitburn and Blackburn neighbourhood in West Lothian. This locally led funding can be used to directly support regeneration, high streets and heritage. Best of all, decisions will be made by local people—those who know and love the places the most.

[Kirsty McNeill]

Huge congratulations to my hon. Friend and her constituents. These three towns have tremendous untapped potential that has been long neglected and underutilised. Our coastal towns are a huge part of our identity on these islands, and I look forward to working with her to champion the pride that people rightly feel about living in this beautiful part of Ayrshire.

[Kirsteen Sullivan]

Years of under-investment and the loss of major employers have left Whitburn and Blackburn facing deep economic and health inequalities, weakened high streets and people generally feeling left behind, yet the strength of local organisations and businesses shows great ambition for renewal. With £20 million of Pride in Place funding from this Labour Government, local people are finally at the heart of decisions on local regeneration. How does the Minister see this programme rebuilding community cohesion and inclusion so that people feel valued and that their contribution matters?