The Chair of the NP11, Sir Roger Marsh OBE DL, has responded to the Government’s Plan for Growth, announced by the Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, today, Friday 23 September 2022.
Sir Roger said:
« Back to News & Updates“We share the Government’s ambition for a high-growth, high-productivity economy, and levelling up those parts of the country that aren’t yet realising their full potential will make that happen.
“The Chancellor is right that unleashing the power of the private sector will be crucial to delivering on the levelling up promise. Also crucial is that business investment is matched by public sector investment to address infrastructure, R&D and SME support. Northern businesses already invest more in R&D than other parts of the country, for example, however they receive significantly less government investment than their counterparts in London, the South East and Scotland, leading to an innovation and productivity performance gap, which is currently a massive missed opportunity for UK plc, as recognised in the Levelling Up White Paper.
“We look forward to hearing more detail of the Government’s proposals for Investment Zones and are encouraged to see the North strongly represented on the list of early identified sites. Targeting investment in those sites with the greatest potential for levelling up will ensure Investment Zones play their full part in making the UK a Science Superpower and realising a Global Britain.
“We also welcome the Growth Plan’s continued commitment to investment in new energy infrastructure. The North is already driving the UK’s green energy revolution and, with the right targeted investment, is ideally placed to help the Government deliver resilient, secure and lower cost energy supply while also driving economic growth.”
