Committees

Selecting towns for the Towns Fund

Inquiry

On 27 July 2019, the government announced the £3.6 billion Towns Fund for England, to support towns that currently do not have the right conditions to develop and sustain strong local economies and recognising that many towns have not benefited from the growth experienced by cities over recent decades.  

Its aim is to provide a selection of struggling towns across England with funding to address issues such as ageing populations, limited regional economic opportunities and lack of investment.   

In September 2019, MHCLG published its selection of 101 towns across England to be invited to bid for up to £25m each. Concerns were raised in the media, including by some MPs, over the lack of transparency of in the selection process, with some observers suggesting the selection of towns was politically motivated.  

MHCLG has not published information on the selection process and the NAO report published 21 July 2020 on the selection process for the funding was the first time the details have been made public.  

The selection process comprised two stages: an initial assessment by MHCLG officials, scoring all towns across England against a range of criteria - followed by the selection, by ministers, of 101 towns to be invited to bid for Town Deals.     

The Committee will question senior officials from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. If you have evidence on these issues, please submit it here by Thursday 10 September 2020.  

Reports, special reports and government responses

View all reports and responses
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting towns for the Towns Fund
Inquiry Selecting towns for the Towns Fund
Committees Public Accounts Committee
Open PDF
238KB
Open HTML
Opens in new window
HC 651
Report
Response to this report
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Twenty-fourth report from Session 2019-21
Open PDF
569KB
Open HTML
Opens in new window
HC 651
Government Response

Oral evidence transcripts

View all oral evidence transcripts
21 September 2020
Inquiry Selecting towns for the Towns Fund
Committees Public Accounts Committee
Open PDF
290KB
Open HTML
204KB
Oral Evidence

Written evidence

View all written evidence
ITF0001 - Selecting towns for the Towns Fund
Witnesses Chris Hanretty
Committees Public Accounts Committee
Open PDF
181KB
Open HTML
117KB
Written Evidence

Other publications

Government Responses
The Government has undertaken to respond to most committee reports within two months, although there are exceptions to this rule.
1 published
Correspondence
Committees exchange letters with government departments and others, often to request information or follow up on recommendations.
1 published

Contact us

  • Email: pubaccom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 3273 (General enquiries). For all media enquiries please contact Jessica Bridges Palmer bridgespalmerj@parliament.uk / 07917488489
  • Address: Public Accounts Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA