The Government has recently published its landmark Levelling Up White Paper.
At the heart of the levelling up agenda is the idea that opportunity and prosperity should not be determined by where you live and should be spread evenly across the whole of the UK.
Cannock has already been awarded £20 million as part of the Levelling Up Fund to improve our town centre. And in Rugeley, we will get a new all-through school on the old power station site.
But this White Paper goes further and sets out the finer detail of how the Government will continue to deliver on the promises we made to you at the 2019 general election.
The White Paper sets out 12 new National Missions to be achieved by 2030.
These include commitments to transport connectivity; faster broadband in every community; violent crime falling and better access to the highest standard of education.
I have recently doubled down on my own efforts to improve transport links in Cannock Chase.
I have been raising concerns about local bus service changes with bus operators and the Council. I have also been lobbying the Trains Minister and train companies to secure a disabled access bridge at Rugeley Trent Valley.
The Government is also increasing research and development investment – encouraging innovation and productivity growth across the UK. Investment of £100 million will be targeted at three former industrial heartlands – Manchester, Glasgow and, best of all, the West Midlands.
The private sector is the engine for wealth creation. Outside of the EU, we can improve our regulatory regime. We will also improve access to finance for Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through our £1.6 billion British Business Bank and £1.4 billion Global Britain Investment Fund.
This is a long-term plan to ensure everyone in the UK has access to the very best opportunities in life, regardless of where they live.
If you would like to read the Levelling Up White Paper in full, you can find it here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uplo…
As ever, if you have any issues at all that you need my help with, email me at amanda.milling.mp@parliament.uk, call 01543 877142 or visit www.amandamilling.com/contact.
