A government minister has insisted Norfolk will benefit from the ‘levelling up’ agenda, after a local MP asked what plans were in place to support towns in his constituency.

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In a Monday afternoon session of the House of Commons, Broadland’s Conservative MP Jerome Mayhew asked how towns such as Fakenham, Acle and Aylsham will benefit from levelling up.

Minister of state Kemi Badenoch, who serves in the newly-renamed Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, replied: “The government is investing over 17 million pounds in Norfolk’s towns, with ambitious town deals already delivered in Norwich, Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn.

“And the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will help to level up for people in places across the UK, increasing and spreading opportunity for people, no matter where they live, including places like Fakenham.”

The Towns Fund has enabled 101 selected towns to bid for up to £25 million or more for regeneration projects, while the UK Shared Prosperity Fund was established after Brexit to replace funds received from the European Union.