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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of levels of regional disparity in economic recovery following the covid-19 outbreak.

Since March 2020, the Government has provided up to £400 billion of direct support for the economy through the pandemic which has helped to safeguard jobs, businesses and public services in every region and nation of the UK. The Government has paid out an estimated £98 billion through the furlough scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme to an estimated 14.7 million employed and self-employed people, helping to protect jobs, businesses and livelihoods. Through our loan and grant schemes, the Government has made an estimated £104 billion available to support businesses of all sizes across the UK.