Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what role mayoral combined authorities will have in the (a) bidding process, (b) allocation of funding, and (c) delivery of projects, for the (i) Levelling Up Fund and (ii) UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

All local areas will be eligible for funding from the Levelling Up Fund. This is about empowering local areas to identify and bring forward genuine local priorities. We will provide further details on the bidding process and allocation of funding in a prospectus in the New Year.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund will target places most in need and people who face labour market barriers. We will provide further details on the bidding process and allocation of funding in a UK-wide investment framework in the spring. To help local areas prepare over 21/22 for introduction of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, we are providing additional UK funding to support our communities to pilot programmes and new approaches. We will provide detail on allocations for 21/22 in a prospectus in the New Year.