Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Fifth Report - Local economic growth
Public Accounts Committee
HC 252
Published 8 June 2022
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Fifth report from Session 2022-23 · published 2 Sep 2022
Recommendations & Conclusions
12
Recommendation
Rejected
We questioned the Department on whether the way in which it was awarding funding might...
Recommendation
We questioned the Department on whether the way in which it was awarding funding might mean some areas missed out multiple times across the various funding pots while others were given several opportunities to get funding.31 The Department explained that …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects the implied recommendation to change the funding award process to prevent areas from missing out, defending its robust decision-making process and ministerial discretion to ensure a fair spread of Levelling Up Fund allocations. It does, however, commit to providing information on the balance of successful and unsuccessful bids by theme and geography.
HM Treasury
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13
Recommendation
Rejected
We reminded the Department that when we reported previously on the Towns Fund we had...
Recommendation
We reminded the Department that when we reported previously on the Towns Fund we had raised concerns over the opacity over some of its decision making.34 In November 2020, we reported that the selection process for awarding the Towns Fund …
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Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the committee's implied recommendation for new safeguards against political influence, defending its robust decision-making process for the Levelling Up Fund and the necessity of ministerial discretion for wider considerations. However, it commits to providing information on the balance of successful and unsuccessful bids by theme and geography to enhance transparency.
HM Treasury
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