Recommendations & Conclusions
17 items
6
Conclusion
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
The Secretary of State’s decision to axe the Industrial Strategy Council is difficult to reconcile with his conclusion that the Council did a good job - a conclusion with which we agree. The more challenging context today enhances the necessity of independent oversight. The abolition of the Council is not …
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The Secretary of State’s decision to axe the Industrial Strategy Council is difficult to reconcile with his conclusion that the Council did a good job - a conclusion with which we agree. The more challenging context today enhances the necessity of independent oversight. The abolition of the Council is not consistent with the Secretary of State’s wider contention that the Plan for Growth is, in effect, an evolution of the Industrial Strategy.
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Government response AI summary
The government provides a detailed overview of its Plan for Growth and strategic objectives across infrastructure, skills, and innovation, but completely ignores the committee's concern regarding the abolition of the Industrial Strategy Council and the necessity of independent oversight.
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Department for Business and Trade
7
Conclusion
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
Abolishing the Industrial Strategy Council was a retrograde step. We are concerned that the Government has disregarded and rejected the benefit of independent long- term analysis and evaluation. Without independent scrutiny implementation of industrial policy will be compromised at best and ineffective at worst. The Council’s analysis and expertise in …
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Abolishing the Industrial Strategy Council was a retrograde step. We are concerned that the Government has disregarded and rejected the benefit of independent long- term analysis and evaluation. Without independent scrutiny implementation of industrial policy will be compromised at best and ineffective at worst. The Council’s analysis and expertise in interpreting the strengths and weaknesses of the Industrial Strategy informed our inquiry, which is just one illustration of how independent oversight can be harnessed for wider scrutiny.
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Government response AI summary
The government's response discusses the precedent of not sharing NERT meeting information, failing to address the committee's concern about the abolition of the Industrial Strategy Council and the need for independent scrutiny.
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Department for Business and Trade
8
Recommendation
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
The abolition of the Industrial Strategy Council removes the opportunity to provide independent analysis over industrial policy in the long term. The Government must ensure that effective scrutiny is put in place in another form in order to measure outcomes and constantly evaluate the strategy. The Council’s abolition removes the …
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The abolition of the Industrial Strategy Council removes the opportunity to provide independent analysis over industrial policy in the long term. The Government must ensure that effective scrutiny is put in place in another form in order to measure outcomes and constantly evaluate the strategy. The Council’s abolition removes the opportunity to provide independent analysis that allows an iterative approach to optimising industrial policy over the long term. (Paragraph 42) Foundations and missions
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Government response AI summary
The government's response addresses the precedent of not publishing NERT meeting minutes, but it does not address the recommendation to ensure alternative effective scrutiny for industrial policy after the Industrial Strategy Council's abolition.
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Department for Business and Trade
10
Recommendation
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
The UK Government should clarify how the devolved Governments will be involved in the design and delivery of future policies and strategies associated with the Plan for Growth. The UK Government should implement lessons from the devolved Governments’ experience of engaging with the UK Government on policies relating to the …
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The UK Government should clarify how the devolved Governments will be involved in the design and delivery of future policies and strategies associated with the Plan for Growth. The UK Government should implement lessons from the devolved Governments’ experience of engaging with the UK Government on policies relating to the Industrial Strategy’s Foundations and Grand Challenges.
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Government response AI summary
The government states there has been no change in government machinery or departmental responsibilities, completely failing to clarify how devolved governments will be involved in future policies or how lessons from past engagement will be implemented.
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Department for Business and Trade
11
Recommendation
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
In addition to co-production with the Devolved Administrations, the Plan for Growth should be developed with regional and local leaders in England with a focus on promoting local engagement with industrial policy, and not merely a strategy document for consumption in Whitehall.
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In addition to co-production with the Devolved Administrations, the Plan for Growth should be developed with regional and local leaders in England with a focus on promoting local engagement with industrial policy, and not merely a strategy document for consumption in Whitehall.
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Government response AI summary
The government's response clarifies departmental responsibilities, but it does not address the recommendation to develop the Plan for Growth in co-production with regional and local leaders in England.
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Department for Business and Trade
13
Conclusion
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
When launched in 2017, the fundamental purpose of the Industrial Strategy was to address poor productivity in the UK, particularly outside of the South East. However, improved productivity was not itself a Grand Challenge or mission of the strategy. This may have contributed to a sense of the Strategy’s complexity …
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When launched in 2017, the fundamental purpose of the Industrial Strategy was to address poor productivity in the UK, particularly outside of the South East. However, improved productivity was not itself a Grand Challenge or mission of the strategy. This may have contributed to a sense of the Strategy’s complexity and lack of clear purpose.
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Government response AI summary
The government describes the core programmes of the 2017 Industrial Strategy and states that ongoing aspects will continue or evolve as part of the Plan for Growth, but does not address the conclusion regarding the strategy's perceived lack of clear purpose.
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Department for Business and Trade
14
Conclusion
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
We are concerned that the Plan for Growth lacks mission-based structures (beyond references to net zero and levelling up) or formal mechanisms for strategic sectoral engagement and support. The reduced emphasis on these elements lessens the formal complexity of the Plan for Growth compared to the Industrial Strategy, but risks …
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We are concerned that the Plan for Growth lacks mission-based structures (beyond references to net zero and levelling up) or formal mechanisms for strategic sectoral engagement and support. The reduced emphasis on these elements lessens the formal complexity of the Plan for Growth compared to the Industrial Strategy, but risks making it harder to realise the strategic balance of vertical and horizontal interventions witnesses called for, or the benefits of mission-driven policy for academic engagement with industry.
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Government response AI summary
The government describes the ongoing delivery of programs from the 2017 Industrial Strategy but does not address the committee's concern about the lack of specific mission-based structures or formal sectoral engagement mechanisms in the new Plan for Growth.
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Department for Business and Trade
17
Recommendation
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
While some businesses in some sectors were aware of the strategy’s purpose and objectives, for many it was distant, did not provide clear direction nor influence decision making. We would like Government to ensure that future industrial policy is easily understood at the grassroots of British industry and translatable to …
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While some businesses in some sectors were aware of the strategy’s purpose and objectives, for many it was distant, did not provide clear direction nor influence decision making. We would like Government to ensure that future industrial policy is easily understood at the grassroots of British industry and translatable to the everyday experiences of businesses in the UK.
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Government response AI summary
The government describes the previous Industrial Strategy and states that ongoing aspects will continue, with some policies evolving as part of the Plan for Growth, but does not commit to specific actions to ensure future policy is easily understood at the grassroots.
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Department for Business and Trade
20
Conclusion
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
Each sector deal is different, some are new whilst some established in 2017 built on cross-sector working already in place. There is value in maintaining the sectoral approach—but clear measures of success and failure are required.
Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of working collaboratively with stakeholders, but does not address the conclusion about maintaining the sectoral approach or the specific need for clear measures of success and failure for sector deals.
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Department for Business and Trade
26
Recommendation
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
We are concerned that so few local strategies were agreed and published, and at evidence which calls into question the varying ability of local institutional structures to take forward industrial policymaking. Regardless of whether the specific Local Industrial Strategy model is continued, Government should consider the lessons that can be …
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We are concerned that so few local strategies were agreed and published, and at evidence which calls into question the varying ability of local institutional structures to take forward industrial policymaking. Regardless of whether the specific Local Industrial Strategy model is continued, Government should consider the lessons that can be learnt from their rollout to support future local industrial policymaking.
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Government response AI summary
The government response consists only of a report title and page number, providing no substantive engagement with the recommendation.
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Department for Business and Trade
29
Conclusion
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
The Government’s recognition of the value of the insights generated through the process of working with local areas to design, and in some cases agree, Local Industrial Strategies is welcome. However, it does not address the fundamental uncertainty regarding the future status of local strategies which are already published, and …
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The Government’s recognition of the value of the insights generated through the process of working with local areas to design, and in some cases agree, Local Industrial Strategies is welcome. However, it does not address the fundamental uncertainty regarding the future status of local strategies which are already published, and those which remain in development.
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Government response AI summary
The government gives a generic response stating its agreement that policies should support the whole economy and all parts of the UK, which does not address the committee's specific concern about the uncertain future status of local industrial strategies.
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Department for Business and Trade
31
Recommendation
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
The Government should clarify whether a new structure will replace Local Industrial Strategies, or what form local growth plans will take in future. This would help to ensure a strategic approach can be taken to distributing funding through levelling up and community investment programmes including the Shared Prosperity Fund. Local …
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The Government should clarify whether a new structure will replace Local Industrial Strategies, or what form local growth plans will take in future. This would help to ensure a strategic approach can be taken to distributing funding through levelling up and community investment programmes including the Shared Prosperity Fund. Local growth plans should serve as a focal point for future strategic conversations about industrial policy—both at a local level, and between local and national government.
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Government response AI summary
The government describes its general approach to sectoral policy, balancing horizontal and vertical interventions within the Plan for Growth, but does not clarify the future structure or form of local growth plans or their role as a focal point.
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Department for Business and Trade
32
Conclusion
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
The paucity of agreed Local Industrial Strategies ultimately limited the contribution of local insights and intelligence into national industrial policy. However, co-creation of industrial policy at local and national level is the right approach and was a strength of the Industrial Strategy. We share the Industrial Strategy Council’s concern that …
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The paucity of agreed Local Industrial Strategies ultimately limited the contribution of local insights and intelligence into national industrial policy. However, co-creation of industrial policy at local and national level is the right approach and was a strength of the Industrial Strategy. We share the Industrial Strategy Council’s concern that mechanisms for such co-creation are absent from the Plan for Growth. The Government’s levelling up agenda will be stronger if local insights and intelligence continue to inform national-level industrial policy, but the move away from the Local Industrial Strategy model will make this more difficult. (Paragraph 116) Post-pandemic economic growth: Industrial policy in the UK 53
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Government response AI summary
The government explains its balanced approach to horizontal and vertical sectoral policies under the Plan for Growth, but does not address the concern regarding the absence of mechanisms for co-creation and local insights to inform national policy.
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Department for Business and Trade
39
Conclusion
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
The Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) could provide a mechanism to contract for innovation by driving public-private collaboration and encouraging 54 Post-pandemic economic growth: Industrial policy in the UK competition between commercial organisations to secure alternative sources of investment for growth. We believe that an agency which can take …
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The Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) could provide a mechanism to contract for innovation by driving public-private collaboration and encouraging 54 Post-pandemic economic growth: Industrial policy in the UK competition between commercial organisations to secure alternative sources of investment for growth. We believe that an agency which can take risks and be flexible in the way it supports commercial innovation has the potential to accelerate progress against the Government’s policy objectives.
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Government response AI summary
The government's response details existing COVID-19 support packages but does not address the committee's observation regarding the Advanced Research and Invention Agency's potential to drive innovation and public-private collaboration.
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Department for Business and Trade
40
Conclusion
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
We note the conclusion of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee that ARIA is a “brand in search of a product” and share concerns that its function remains uncertain. ARIA’s remit and objectives are very broad and we are concerned that its potential should not be diluted by …
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We note the conclusion of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee that ARIA is a “brand in search of a product” and share concerns that its function remains uncertain. ARIA’s remit and objectives are very broad and we are concerned that its potential should not be diluted by a lack of clear focus.
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Government response AI summary
The government's response discusses support packages for businesses during Covid-19, which is entirely unrelated to the committee's concerns about the focus and function of ARIA.
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Department for Business and Trade
43
Recommendation
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
British business should be provided with a clear picture of the landscape in which it will operate in the post-Brexit and post-Covid-19 era. We recommend that the Government publish an overview of the scale and nature of its future relationship with industry to clarify the mechanisms it will use for …
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British business should be provided with a clear picture of the landscape in which it will operate in the post-Brexit and post-Covid-19 era. We recommend that the Government publish an overview of the scale and nature of its future relationship with industry to clarify the mechanisms it will use for investing in commercial innovation. This overview should set out principles by which the Government will seek to support businesses, particularly SME’s experiencing rapid growth. Further, the Treasury should set out its plans—as a co-owner of the new Plan for Growth—for modernising government procurement rules in the future. (Paragraph 171) Where now?
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Government response AI summary
The government generically recognises sectors undergoing rapid change but does not commit to publishing an overview of its relationship with industry, principles for SMEs, or Treasury plans for modernising procurement rules.
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Department for Business and Trade
44
Recommendation
First Report - Post-pandemic economic g…
Not Addressed
To provide clear direction the Government should present to the House an updated industrial policy statement which sets out the Government’s strategic assessment of industrial policy in the UK. The Government should provide:(Paragraph 180) • Confirmation of who is leading industrial policy in the UK—is it the Prime Minister as …
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To provide clear direction the Government should present to the House an updated industrial policy statement which sets out the Government’s strategic assessment of industrial policy in the UK. The Government should provide:(Paragraph 180) • Confirmation of who is leading industrial policy in the UK—is it the Prime Minister as Chair of the National Economy and Recovery Taskforce, the Chancellor of the Exchequer as author of the Plan for Growth, or the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy? • Confirmation that officials in each relevant department will be assigned responsibility to lead on industrial policy in their area. Post-pandemic economic growth: Industrial policy in the UK 55 • A commitment to publishing the dates and minutes of the cross-cabinet National Economy and Recovery Taskforce which will coordinate industrial policy. • A commitment to publish industrial policy metrics and to report on those metrics on an annual basis at local as well as national level. The Government should support relevant departments and national agencies in collecting and publishing this data. • A commitment to co-producing industrial policy with the devolved governments and regional and local leaders. The Government should set out the process and timeframes by which this will be achieved. 56 Post-pandemic economic growth: Industrial policy in the UK
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Government response AI summary
The government's response provides a generic statement about sectors undergoing rapid change and does not address the comprehensive recommendation for an updated industrial policy statement or specific commitments.
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Department for Business and Trade