On Wednesday (2 February), the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, published the Government’s long-awaited Levelling Up White Paper.
The Levelling Up White Paper provides a plan to boost productivity, pay and living standards, as well as improve public services and transport connectivity.
Key to this plan are measures to improve educational inequalities. Derbyshire has been designated as one of 55 new ‘Education Investment Areas’ (EIAs). EIAs will receive extra investment, with retention bonuses for the best teachers, as well as more powers for good schools to keep standards and results high.
Derbyshire has also been invited to begin formal negotiations to agree a new ‘County Deal’. This would mean new powers for local authorities over transport, skills training, and economic support.
In addition, Derbyshire will benefit from extra investment in bus services to reduce fares and improve services.
The White Paper also confirmed Buxton’s receipt of £6.6 million from the Future High Streets Fund.
Local MP Robert Largan, welcomed the publication of the White Paper in the House of Commons, and pushed the Secretary of State to ensure that local authorities across the region work collaboratively to deliver for people in High Peak.
Robert Largan, MP for High Peak, asked:
“I welcome the enhanced bus service on its way to Derbyshire, the Derbyshire County Deal and the fact that Derbyshire is going to be an education investment area, on top of the Future High Street Fund for Buxton, the £137 million Hope Valley Line upgrade and the £228 million Mottram Bypass, but there is a democratic deficit that I am worried about. The Mayor of Greater Manchester takes decisions that have a huge impact on High Peak, but we have no say on them. What can be done to ensure there is more collaborative working to ensure that levelling up works for everyone across regional boundaries?”
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, responded:
“My hon. Friend makes an important point. High Peak contains some of the most beautiful and important parts of Derbyshire, but it is also part of the economic area around Greater Manchester. I therefore want to ensure, with him, Derbyshire leaders and the Mayor of Greater Manchester, that we are working together in the interests of my hon. Friend’s constituents.”
Robert Largan, MP for High Peak, commented:
“Since being elected, I have consistently spoken of the need to invest in communities, like those in High Peak, which have been overlooked by all parties for too long. The Government’s new White Paper does exactly that.
“Locally we have already begun to make progress, with the £137 million Hope Valley Line upgrade, £228 million Mottram Bypass, and £6.6 million Future High Street funding for Buxton.
“This White Paper goes further, with measures to ensure that every child receives a world-class education to give them the best chance of fulfilling their potential, no matter where they grow up. I am committed to working on a cross-party basis to drive up standards and to give our young people the opportunities they deserve.”
