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Written Question
Electoral Register: British Nationals Abroad
Thursday 25th January 2024

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that individuals living overseas whose former UK address no longer exists are able to register to vote in the UK.

Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

Applicants will be able to register in respect of an address that no longer exists or if the postcode has changed. The mechanisms for connecting applicants to their qualifying address will be the same regardless of whether the address still exists. In such cases the Electoral Registration Officer should determine which polling district the former address would fall to at the present point in time.

I would encourage any British citizen, domestic or overseas, who needs further support in their application to contact their local Electoral Registration Officer.


Written Question
Budget March 2023: Scotland
Monday 27th March 2023

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will discuss with Cabinet colleagues the potential implications for his policies on intergovernmental relations of the Scottish Deputy First Minister’s letter to the UK Government on the Spring Budget, dated 15 March 2023.

Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

Last year we held over 270 intergovernmental ministerial meetings bringing together Government and Devolved Administration colleagues.

I was pleased that the Deputy First Minister noted in his letter the positive collaboration between our officials in delivering Green Freeports and City Region and Growth Deals as an example of good intergovernmental relations.

My ministerial colleagues and I will continue working closely with the devolved administrations.


Written Question
UK Shared Prosperity Fund
Thursday 20th October 2022

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if it remains the policy of the Government that total domestic UK-wide funding for the Shared Prosperity Fund will on average reach about £1.5 billion per year, as announced in the Spending Review published in November 2020.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The UK Government remains committed to levelling up across the UK. In 2021, the UK Government announced a £2.6 billion fund, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, as a key component of this ambition. All areas of the UK will receive a UKSPF allocation via a funding formula rather than through competition. We welcome the work of local authorities and partners across the UK in developing UKSPF Investment Plans and will confirm the outcome of the Plan assessment process shortly.


Written Question
Homes for Ukraine Scheme
Thursday 21st April 2022

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how UK citizens may become approved sponsors for Ukrainian refugees in the event that they do not have a UK passport or UK-issued photo driving licence.

Answered by Eddie Hughes

Details are set out online at: www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-sponsor-guidance#eligibility.


Written Question
United Kingdom
Thursday 3rd February 2022

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on strengthening the Union.

Answered by Neil O'Brien

The United Kingdom is the world’s most successful and enduring multi-national, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural political union. Being part of the United Kingdom makes every one of us safer and more prosperous. To ensure all levels of government in the United Kingdom can work better together to deliver for the people we serve, the UK Government and the devolved governments have recently concluded our joint review of Intergovernmental Relations and agreed a new set of arrangements to promote closer and more effective joint working. I refer the Hon Member to the written Statement made by the Secretary of State on 13 January 2022 (HCWS536).


Written Question
Local Government: National Insurance
Thursday 21st October 2021

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to Local Authorities of the increase in employer National Insurance.

Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade

This Government intends to compensate public sector employers for the increased cost of the Levy.


Written Question
Local Government: Energy
Thursday 21st October 2021

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what estimate his Department has made of the financial cost relating to the increase in energy prices will be for local authorities in England in financial years (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2022-23.

Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade

We have empowered local authorities to make decisions on a range of matters that shape what happens in their area. We believe that, for most local government responsibilities, the most effective way to fund them is through councils' Core Spending Power. Core Spending Power is flexible to ensure local areas can prioritise based on their own understanding of the needs of their local communities. 

On 10 February, the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2021-22 passed in Parliament unopposed. This year, we have made available an increase in councils' Core Spending Power of up to 4.6% in cash terms, from £49.0 billion in 2020-21 to up to £51.3 billion in 2021-22. This in real terms builds on the largest year on year increase in spending power in a decade last year and recognises the resources councils need to meet their pressures and maintain critical services


We are committed to ensuring the sector continues to get the support they need to maintain key services and build back better after the pandemic. The forthcoming Spending Review will be the opportunity to consider local government's future funding needs in the round, and we will seek to provide local authorities with longer-term clarity to enable their forward planning.


Written Question
Levelling Up Fund
Monday 18th October 2021

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what the (a) opening and (b) closing dates are for the second round of Levelling up funding.

Answered by Neil O'Brien

The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets. Further detail on how the Fund will operate from 2022-23 onwards will be set out later this year.


Written Question
Regional Planning and Development: Finance
Thursday 23rd September 2021

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when the first round of successful applications for Levelling Up funding will be announced.

Answered by Neil O'Brien

I am delighted to say that the first round of the Levelling Up Fund received significant interest. Bids are currently being assessed in line with the published assessment process. Outcomes from the first round of bids for the Levelling Up Fund will be announced and bidding authorities informed in due course.


Written Question
Regional Planning and Development
Monday 20th September 2021

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the successful bids for the first round of the Levelling Up Fund will be announced.

Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade

I am delighted to say that the first round of the Levelling Up Fund received significant interest from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland bidding authorities across the three investment priorities of the Fund. Bids are currently being assessed in line with the published assessment process. Outcomes from the first round of bids for the Levelling Up Fund will be announced later in the year and bidding authorities will be informed in due course.