4. Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Shared Prosperity Fund and Levelling-up Fund

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:24 pm on 28 September 2021.

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Photo of Mabon ap Gwynfor Mabon ap Gwynfor Plaid Cymru 4:24, 28 September 2021

(Translated)

Minister, would you agree that this is another kind of chumocracy, which is a characteristic of this Conservative Government, where they try and retain wealth among their privileged friends whilst denying the poorest areas of the UK funding that they so badly need? How else can you explain why Gwynedd is at the bottom of level 3 and an area such as the Chancellor's is in the highest level for funding? As a former county councillor, I was part of the local campaign to try to get projects for this funding, and it was incredible to see the mess in terms of finding projects. The levelling-up fund looks at spending on schemes that will allow Tory MPs to be re-elected and get good salaries whilst this cruel Government in London is cutting universal credit to the most vulnerable in society. Westminster isn't levelling up, but rather it is punching down. Minister, would you agree with that analysis?