A further concern regarding the distribution of competitive funding was the additional metrics for success applied to once applications had closed in round two of the Levelling Up Fund. This was signally unhelpful for perceptions of trust and transparency and leaves the Government open to criticisms that it has not clearly explained how funding decisions have been made on the basis of need or merit.

A further concern regarding the distribution of competitive funding was the additional metrics for success applied to once applications had closed in round two of the Levelling Up Fund. This was signally unhelpful for perceptions of trust and transparency and leaves the Government open to criticisms that it has not clearly explained how funding decisions have been made on the basis of need or merit. Type: conclusion | Number: 12 | Paragraph: 48 | Response status: not_accepted Government response: We followed a robust process for the assessment, shortlisting and decision-making stages of round two of the Levelling Up Fund, all of which has been set out in our published guidance and Explanatory Note. The published Prospectus and Technical Note outlined the decision-making framework at the outs