Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what methodology his Department used to the determine the priority areas listed in the (a) UK Community Renewal Fund and (b) UK Shared Prosperity Fund; and if he will publish that methodology.

To ensure the UK Community Renewal Fund funding reaches the most in need, we have identified 100 priority places based on an index of economic resilience across Great Britain which measures productivity, household income, unemployment, skills, and population density. We are committed to transparency and a methodological note will be published explaining how the 100 priority places were selected.

We will publish details on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in a UK-wide Investment Framework later in 2021. The UK Community Renewal Fund will help inform the design of the UK Shared Prosperity through funding of one-year pilots, but the Funds are distinct in regard to design, eligibility, and duration.