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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps are being taken to improve access to community facilities and public services in lower socioeconomic areas.

Through the UK Government's Pride in Place Programme, up to £5.8 billion is being invested over ten years in 284 neighbourhoods experiencing the highest levels of deprivation. In Northern Ireland, this includes up to £20 million funding and support each for Coleraine and Derry~Londonderry in phase one of the programme. In each place, the local neighbourhood board will work with the community to decide how this funding is spent, which may include investment in community facilities, where this reflects community priorities.

Northern Ireland’s share of funding derived from phase two of the Pride in Place Programme and the Pride in Place Impact Fund for 2025-26 to 2028-29 will be delivered as part of the Local Growth Fund.

We are also delivering fairer funding for local government in England, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement in a decade. This Settlement strengthens the relationship between deprivation and funding need. By 2028-29, the top 10% most deprived areas will receive 45% more funding per head than the least deprived. The majority of funding in the Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.