Government callers claim he spent only 8% of boost fund ‘wasted’

The Govt called Labour’s claim that it had spent only 8% of the leveling funds “completely false and misleading”.

The opposition accused v Conservatives sitting on more than 90% of the promised £4.8 billion for regeneration.

A Work A freedom of information (FOI) request seen by the PA news agency suggested that the total spending on the leveling fund was £392m by the end of February, around 8% of the full amount.

A spokesman for the Department of Upgrading, Housing and Community Services said “these claims are completely misleading and wrong”.

They added: “The analysis includes figures for the third round of the Upgrading Fund, which has yet to be allocated, as well as the second round, which was allocated only earlier this year and is due to be spent over at least three financial years.

“The Uplift Fund is transforming communities across the country, spending £4.8 billion over a number of years, but we have always been clear that councils will receive funding over time, with payments made every six months.”

The government said that the published prospectuses for both rounds of funding that were allocated made it clear that the funding would be spent over three years (the first round was scheduled to take place by March 31, 2024, the second round by March 31, 2025).

The FOI presented by Labor looked at data until 22 February 2023 – the second round was announced on 18 January.

In the House of Commons, the secretary of shadow communities Lisa Nandy accused the government of spending on tax cuts for the “richest 1%” three times what they spent on the whole of Northern England in more than a year.

“Doesn’t that just sum up this government?” she said. “They can get their act together when it comes to the 1%, but when it comes to investing in our city centres, local transport, decent housing, even completing one of the level-up missions, why is it that the rest of us are always left waiting?”

A Labor Freedom of Information request asked the government how much of the money allocated through the fund had been spent.

The Department for Upgrading, Housing and Communities responded that £224m had been spent by 18 January, rising to £392m by 22 February.