TRADE ASS
LEVELLING UP
ACS welcomes white paper on levelling up Government focuses on improving standards of living and working in disadvantaged areas through the delivery of 12 ‘missions’ by 2030.
T
he Association of the Convenience Stores has welcomed the publication of the government’s levelling up white paper, specifically the commitments to tackle crime in communities and boost connectivity in rural areas. The white paper, which will become law through the new Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, focuses on improving standards of living and working in disadvantaged areas across the UK through the delivery of 12 ‘missions’ by 2030 These include:
● Homicide, serious violence, and
every area of the UK, with the gap
neighbourhood crime will have
between the top performing and
fallen, focused on the worst-af-
other areas closing.
● Pay, employment and productivity
● Pride in place, such as people’s
will have risen in all of the UK, with
satisfaction with their town centre
the gap between the top perform-
and engagement in local culture
ing and other areas closing.
and community will have risen in
fected areas. ● The UK will have nationwide gigabit-capable broadband and 4G coverage, with 5G coverage for most of the population. ● The gap in Healthy Life Expectancy between local areas where it is highest and lowest will have narrowed and by 2035 will rise by five years.
14 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 91 / WEDNESDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 2022
ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “It’s encouraging that the white paper recognises the importance of tackling crime, which is central to how people feel about their local area. This rhetoric needs to be backed with resources and powers for Police and Crime Commissioners and Neighbourhood Policing Teams to improve their response to crime in shops and elsewhere in communities.” The full levelling up white paper is available to download from the UK Government website.
