What is the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities?

THE Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities will be responsible for building the UK back better from the coronavirus pandemic.

Michael Gove will head the new Westminster department announced during Boris Johnson’s Cabinet reshuffle.

What is the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities?

The department will deliver a raft of “improvements” in every part of the UK as it recovers from the pandemic and will be coordinating with other Whitehall departments.

The change comes as former Bank of England Chief Economist Andy Haldane was on Sunday appointed as the new Head of the Levelling Up Taskforce to enact the prime minister’s levelling-up agenda.

Gove was also given the title of Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and will be responsible for UK governance and elections and will co-ordinate with the devolved governments in Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast.

He’ll be supported by new Minister of State Kemi Badenoch MP and a range of Tory MPs.

On appointing Andy, the Prime Minister said: “Andy is uniquely qualified to lead our efforts to raise living standards, spread opportunity, improve our public services and restore people’s sense of pride in their communities.”

Gove said he was “thrilled” to be leading No 10’s Levelling Up agenda, which he dubbed “the defining mission of this Government”.

“With a superb team of ministers and officials in a new department, our relentless focus will be on delivering for those overlooked families and undervalued communities across the United Kingdom.

“We have a unique opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Why has the Department had a change of name?

The department – formerly known as the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – changed names on Sunday, September 19, 2021.

The change comes as Downing Street looks to deliver on its central mission to “level up” every part of the UK.

Boris Johnson said in a statement: “This Government is committed to uniting and levelling up every part of the UK and I am determined that as we build back better from the pandemic we are geared up with the teams and expertise to deliver on that promise.”

What does the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities do?

It will in be charge of fulfilling the No 10’s Levelling Up agenda to build new, Green and more efficient infrastructure and housing.

Junior Housing minister Jeremy Pocklington said the depart would “lead the way in championing levelling up, and our recently unveiled second headquarters in the city of Wolverhampton reflects our commitment to driving growth across the UK.”

The department is expected with work with other Whitehall ministries, as well and local and national governments, the private and voluntary sectors “to design an economy that works for every part of the UK,” another minister joining the fold said.