Wales has 17 counties on the priority list for the £800m Levelling-Up Fund for the 海角视频's Celtic nations - but some economically hit areas have missed out.
The 海角视频 Government has unveiled a £4.8bn 'levelling-up' pot - with £800m to share between Wales, Scotland and Northern over the next four years.
It has come under attack for 'undermining democracy' by moving powers on economic development and transport that were devolved to Wales after two referendums back to Westminster.
Welsh Government has been frozen out of the decision making process with the Treasury deciding how funds will be allocated.
The Fund will invest in local infrastructure that has a "visible impact" on people and their communities. This includes local transport schemes, urban regeneration projects and cultural assets.
It places areas into different priority categories - one to three - based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration.
Overall Wales does well with 17 of the nation's 22 local authorities in priority one - from Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent in South Wales to Wrexham and Denbighshire in the north. They will get the priority for funds.
But Gwynedd, which has previously received strong EU funding support, is in category three and Anglesey, which has one of the lowest GVAs in the 海角视频, is in category two.
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Meanwhile Cardiff is in category one as is Chancellor Rishi Sunak's constituency Richmond in Yorkshire, despite being one of the least deprived areas in England.
Dr James Davies, MP/AS Vale of Clwyd/Dyffryn Clwyd, welcomed the opportunity for Denbighshire to bid for funds.
He said: "The 海角视频 Government’s levelling-up fund will back local projects to improve everyday life for millions of people and I am absolutely delighted that the Chancellor has allocated this £150K to enable Denbighshire to work up projects to this end.
“There is already much regeneration work being carried out across Denbighshire but that needs to step up a gear and this funding will enable me to work with the Council to ensure that is the case.
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“The 海角视频 Government has supported hundreds of thousands of people and businesses in Wales through the pandemic and this funding demonstrates the Government’s further commitment to improving the lives of people in North Wales and ensuring that Denbighshire is not left behind.”
But Plaid's Liz Saville Roberts MP, who represents Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said: "It beggars belief that the Chancellor can attempt to justify including his own constituency along with the constituencies of many of his Tory colleagues in the highest category of need, while scorning a county like Gwynedd.
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"The economy of north west Wales has suffered decades of central government under-investment and workers here are among the lowest paid in the 海角视频.
"This isn’t a levelling-up budget - it’s nothing but a Tory Party stitch-up.
"Instead of using public money to improve people’s lives where support is most needed, these are shameless bungs to those areas where Tory votes are most needed."
The Uk Treasury said:
- The index places areas into category 1,2 or 3 based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration.
- These bandings will form part of our criteria for assessing bids. While preference will be given to bids from higher priority areas, the bandings do not represent eligibility criteria, nor the amount or number of bids a place can submit.
- They are meant to be an indicator to help generally target places which are most in need of levelling up. Priority 1 areas include Blackburn, Blackpool, Chesterfield, Gosport, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Oldham, Redcar and Cleveland.
- We will publish a full methodological note shortly.
Finance Minister Rebecca Evans has said 海角视频 Government's “aggressive approach” to replacing EU funding by bypassing Welsh Government is “completely unacceptable”.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Steve Barclay, said: "We are committed to levelling-up opportunities right across the United Kingdom so that all communities can benefit from our future prosperity."
Wales counties
Priority 1
Blaenau Gwent
Wrexham
Denbighshire
Conwy
Bridgend
Cardiff
Caerphilly
Carmarthenshire
Ceredigion
Merthyr Tydfil
Neath Port Talbot
Newport
Pembrokeshire
Powys
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Swansea
Torfaen
Priority 2
Flintshire
Anglesey
Vale of Glamorgan
Priority 3
Gwynedd
Monmouthshire