Restrictions meant only one project could be chosen

As part of the application process for bids to the second round of the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, MPs were only able to provide formal priority support to one project put forward by the local authority.

I met with Monmouthshire County Council to discuss this and backed one of the bids.

Independent officials then assessed the bids from local authorities before ministers were asked to sign them off.

I was not involved in the Monmouthshire bids because I am a UK Government minister and this could create a perceived conflict of interest.

The government does not want ministers funnelling successful bids into certain areas for political reasons.

The rail bid referred to by Mr Wadley in his letter to the Monmouthshire Beacon (Wednesday 25th January 2023) will benefit people in deprived communities in Cardiff, as well as those who travel into the city by public transport on a daily basis.

It was in my capacity as Secretary of State for Wales that I discussed this and other successful bids in the media.

Mr Wadley is correct to say Monmouthshire does not get its fair share of funding.

We receive less money per head than any other local authority in Wales.

The fault lies with the Welsh Labour Government, which is responsible for allocating money to local authorities, and the situation will get much worse if ministers in Cardiff Bay go ahead with a proposed council tax revaluation.

If Mr Wadley is genuinely concerned, and not simply trying to score a few political points, he might want to consider signing my petition on the matter at https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/245288

Rt Hon David T C Davies MP

Member for Monmouth