Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the process that allocates levelling up funding to different areas across the UK among criticism that affluent areas have benefited.

Speaking during a visit to Hartlepool today, Mr Sunak said the criteria for levelling up funding was “very transparent” and there would be another round of funding for areas that had missed out this time.

Mr Sunak was asked by reporters during his visit why Catterick Garrison in his North Yorkshire constituency was chosen for funding over more deprived places such as South Shields and Billingham.

The Northern Echo: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a visit to Northern School of Art in Hartlepool, County Durham. Picture: PA IMAGESPrime Minister Rishi Sunak during a visit to Northern School of Art in Hartlepool, County Durham. Picture: PA IMAGES (Image: Picture: PA IMAGES)

The MP for Richmond said: “Well look whenever you have one of these days, of course there are going to be people who are disappointed that they weren’t successful this time.

“The good news is we’re going to have another round of this fund – we’ve had two already, 200 different places around the country have already benefited.

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“We’ll have a third round of this fund, and actually the criteria that we use is very transparent, it’s all online.

“But actually the most important thing is that we’re delivering change in communities up and down the country, we’re spreading opportunity, we’re creating jobs, making sure people feel pride in the places they call home.”

Speaking on Britishvolt in Hartlepool, which is receiving £16.5 million for its “production village”, Mr Sunak said the Government “did step up” with funding for the Northumberland electric car battery start-up firm.

Mr Sunak said it was a “total mischaracterisation” to say the Government had no paid up.

Asked whether the company would have been “a much more important example of levelling up”, Mr Sunak said: “The Government did provide funding for Britishvolt and that project but that funding was conditional, and rightly conditional, on the company being able to raise money from private investors as well, and that’s an important thing.

The Government’s not best placed to decide which companies should and shouldn’t be successful. All the Government can do is support that.

The Northern Echo: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak looks at his screen-printing, during a visit to Northern School of Art in Hartlepool, County Durham. Picture: PA IMAGESPrime Minister Rishi Sunak looks at his screen-printing, during a visit to Northern School of Art in Hartlepool, County Durham. Picture: PA IMAGES (Image: Picture: PA IMAGES)

“But ultimately, if those companies are going to be successful, they need to attract money from private investors as well.”

It comes as five County Durham bids for levelling up cash to regenerate town centres failed.

Several Labour MPs criticised the Conservative government for favouring affluent areas in the south over deprived northern communities in need of funding.

While in the North East town, the Prime Minister was given a tour of facilities at the Northern School of Art.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen showed Mr Sunak around the Northern Studios and the town centre after the Prime Minister landed at Teesside Airport in the afternoon.

Mayor Ben Houchen said: “It has been great to welcome the Prime Minister to Hartlepool to show him what we’ve been doing. We have ambitious plans to make Hartlepool a culture and filmmaking capital through the development of our MDC.

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“The £54million Teesside, Darlington, and Hartlepool has received is another great boost to our wider ambitions.

“The cash injection for transport will play a vital role in giving people the access they desperately need to well-paid jobs and education. It’s also fantastic to see important projects in Guisborough and East Cleveland getting the support they richly deserve.

“It’s been another great day for Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool and this latest funding will help more of our homegrown talent to stay local and go far.”