Recommendation 1

The Government has committed to the largest investment in infrastructure in decades, which it believes has the potential to support a fairer and more equitable national economy. However, there is also great potential to waste this money on “white elephant” projects if it is not invested wisely. Evidence the Committee gathered suggests that there is uncertainty as to what the Government means by levelling up, and how its large infrastructure spending commitments will contribute to levelling up. There is a clear risk that money will be spent on projects which might boost employment in the very short term, but will not lead to longer-term change in economic outcomes for the poorest parts of the country.