Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 24
24
When we asked what success would look like for people in areas where, for example,...
Conclusion
When we asked what success would look like for people in areas where, for example, it is hard to get a job or the High Street is struggling, the Department highlighted the importance of taking a broad definition of growth.71 We heard that that success would include people having access to good jobs, a good place to live, a vibrant High Street and pride in the sense of community. The Department for Transport told us that its appraisal includes measures around the role that transport plays in connecting people to jobs and services, unlocking housing and wider investment, and decarbonisation.72 64 Qq 12–15 65 Committee of Public Accounts, Local Enterprise Partnerships: progress review, One Hundred and Fifth Report of Session 2017–19, HC 1754, July 2019 66 C&AG’s Report, paras 19 and 4.10 67 Public Accounts Committee, Oral evidence: Use of evaluation and financial modelling, HC 1055, Wednesday 9 March 2022 68 Q 12–13 69 Q 137 70 C&AG’s Report, para 4.5 71 Qq 14–15 72 Qq 15–16 16 Local economic growth Measuring performance on a consistent basis
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
7.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2023 7.2 Although the government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation it disagrees with the conclusion on which it is based. 7.3 As mentioned in the Levelling Up White Paper’s technical annex, we have a good understanding of how we will be measuring progress for most missions on a consistent basis across geographical areas and time scales. For missions that are exploratory, such as pride in place and well-being, or where more granular and timely subnational data is needed, further work is being undertaken to develop these. 7.4 The department has established a Spatial Data Unit to drive forward the data transformation required in central government. The Unit, working together with the Office of National Statistics (ONS) and other government departments, will produce indicators, looking at alternative data sources in absence of good quality local data, address current data gaps and measure progress against the levelling up missions at local level. 7.5 The ONS have published a summary outlining their work plan over the next few years to develop a solid information base with production and dissemination of more timely, granular, and harmonised subnational statistics for regional and local decision-making. 7.6 The department also benefits from a refreshed concordat on statistics (October 2021) between the UK government and the devolved administrations. The concordat sets out how the administrations will work together to deliver an agreed suite of coherent, reliable, consistent and timely statistics about and across the UK.