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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for its policies of the increase in PAYE employees between February 2020 and October 2021 being substantially lower in four of the five regions of Scotland than the majority of other regions and nations of the UK.

My Department is committed to levelling up all parts of the United Kingdom including, of course, Scotland. My Department opened its first office in Scotland in 2021, an important demonstration of the Government’s commitment to levelling up in Scotland and just one part of a wider Government programme which is increasing the number of Civil Service roles based in Scotland. DLUHC staff based in Scotland will play an important role in role in connecting with partner organisations and communities to ensure Government policies meet local priorities and needs.