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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the design of the (a) Levelling Up Fund and (b) the Community Renewal Fund.

The UK Government is providing an additional £220 million funding through the UK Community Renewal Fund to help local areas prepare for the launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in 2022. The Fund aims to support people and communities most in need across the UK to pilot programmes and new approaches and will invest in skills, community and place, local business, and supporting people into employment.

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.

The UK Government intends to continue to work with the devolved administrations to ensure that funding is used to best effect and supports citizens across the UK. For both funds, where appropriate, the UK Government will seek advice from the devolved administrations on bids to ensure that they are deliverable and complementary to other provision.

UK Government officials regularly engage their counterparts in the devolved administrations to discuss any updates, concerns or queries. UK Government ministers recently met with ministers in the Welsh Government to discuss the UK Community Renewal Fund, the Levelling Up Fund and the UK Community Ownership Fund.