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Post-pandemic economic growth: Levelling up - local and regional structures and the delivery of economic growth

Status: Closed Opened: 24 Jul 2020 Closed: 3 Dec 2021 14 recommendations 4 conclusions 1 report

This sub-inquiry - Levelling up: local and regional structures and the delivery of economic growth - forms part of the Committee’s overall ‘super-inquiry’ into Post-Pandemic Economic Growth. Our ‘levelling up’ inquiry will look at how local and regional government structures (including the role of powerhouses, local enterprise partnerships and growth hubs, city and regional mayoralties, … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Post-pandemic economic growth: Levelling up HC 566 22 Jul 2021 18 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
3 Recommendation Third Report - Post-pandemic economic g… Acknowledged

There is no doubt that geographical inequality is a structural problem in the UK and...

There is no doubt that geographical inequality is a structural problem in the UK and attempting to address these inequalities should be at the heart of the UK’s plans for economic recovery post-pandemic. These plans should be focused on longer-term goals, rather than just the life span of political cycles, … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of the issue and the need for long-term planning, stating they will take it into consideration for future policy. They also highlight existing provision of capacity funding to local authorities for bidding for grants.
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Department for Business and Trade
7 Recommendation Third Report - Post-pandemic economic g… Acknowledged

Despite its large-scale ambition and promised additional funding, it is unclear whether the levels of...

Despite its large-scale ambition and promised additional funding, it is unclear whether the levels of funding available to local areas (via levelling up) will equal, never mind exceed, historic levels of UK and EU funding to local government. Given the state of public finances following Covid-19, the Government should be … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government reiterates its commitment to levelling up, highlighting DLUHC's role and the publication of priority outcomes and delivery plans from the 2020 Spending Review. It notes that updated priority outcomes will be published at the next Spending Review, but does not specifically commit to …
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Department for Business and Trade
12 Recommendation Third Report - Post-pandemic economic g… Acknowledged

The Levelling Up White Paper (incorporating the Devolution White Paper) needs to be bold and...

The Levelling Up White Paper (incorporating the Devolution White Paper) needs to be bold and progressive. It should clarify which tiers of devolved and local government in England are responsible for delivering which levelling up objectives and then ensure those tiers are adequately resourced to deliver on those objectives, as … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the importance of clear direction, citing the transformation of the Ministry to DLUHC and new appointments as indicators of seriousness. It states that more plans will be announced in due course and promises to ensure appropriate governance structures for successful delivery …
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Department for Business and Trade
16 Recommendation Third Report - Post-pandemic economic g… Acknowledged

There should be a clear direction from No10 on which Department will be responsible for...

There should be a clear direction from No10 on which Department will be responsible for delivering which outcomes and how. We recommend that the Government establish a Cabinet Committee to oversee the co-ordination and delivery of the levelling up agenda across Whitehall, co-ordinating funding allocations and delivery with the devolved … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees on the importance of clear departmental direction for levelling up, citing the formation of DLUHC and the Secretary of State's role in driving cross-Whitehall efforts. It commits to ensuring appropriate governance structures are in place for successful delivery but does not explicitly …
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Department for Business and Trade

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
18 May 2021 Aaron Goater · Committee on Climate Change, Kate O'Neill · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Luke Hall · Housing, Communities and Local Government, Mercedes Maroto-Valer · Heriot-Watt University, Nick Molho · Aldersgate Group, Paul Scully · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy View ↗
24 Nov 2020 Andrew Carter · Centre for Cities, Henri Murison · Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Katherine Bennett · Western Gateway, Marvin Rees · Bristol City Council, Mr Duncan Simpson · Taxpayers' Alliance, Rachael Greenwood · Midlands Engine, Rokhsana Fiaz · Newham Council, Sir Peter Soulsby · Leicester City Council, The Lord Kerslake · UK 2020 Commission View ↗
22 Oct 2020 Jamie Driscoll · North of Tyne Combined Authority, Rt Hon Andy Burnham · Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Steve Rotheram · Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Tim Bowles · West of England Combined Authority View ↗
1 Oct 2020 Chris Fletcher · Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Councillor Sue Baxtor · National Association of Local Councils, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe · Local Government Association, Louise Bennett OBE DL · Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Mark Bretton · THE LEP Network, Sandy Needham DL · West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, Stuart Elford · Devon Chamber of Commerce View ↗

Who gave evidence

26 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Aaron Goater · Industry Lead Committee on Climate Change 1
Andrew Carter · Chief Executive Centre for Cities 1
Chris Fletcher · Campaigns Director Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce 1
Councillor Sue Baxtor · Chairman National Association of Local Councils 1
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe · Vice Chair of the City Regions Board Local Government Association 1
Henri Murison · Director Northern Powerhouse Partnership 1
Jamie Driscoll · Mayor North of Tyne Combined Authority 1
Kate O'Neill · Director of Policy, Cities and Local Growth Unit Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 1
Katherine Bennett · Chair Western Gateway 1
Louise Bennett OBE DL · Chief Executive Officer Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce 1
Luke Hall · Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government Housing, Communities and Local Government 1
Mark Bretton · Chair THE LEP Network 1
Marvin Rees · Mayor Bristol City Council 1
Mercedes Maroto-Valer · Director, Research Centre for Carbon Solutions Heriot-Watt University 1
Mr Duncan Simpson · Research Director Taxpayers' Alliance 1
Nick Molho · Executive Director Aldersgate Group 1
Paul Scully · Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour… Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy 1
Rachael Greenwood · Director Midlands Engine 1
Rokhsana Fiaz · Mayor Newham Council 1
Rt Hon Andy Burnham · Mayor Greater Manchester Combined Authority 1
Sandy Needham DL · Chief Executive Officer West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce 1
Sir Peter Soulsby · Mayor Leicester City Council 1
Steve Rotheram · Mayor Liverpool City Region Combined Authority 1
Stuart Elford · Chief Executive Officer Devon Chamber of Commerce 1
The Lord Kerslake · Chair UK 2020 Commission 1
Tim Bowles · Mayor West of England Combined Authority 1

Correspondence

3 letters
DateDirectionTitle
13 Jan 2022 To cttee Letter from the Secretary of State for Levelling UP, Housing and Communities on…
15 Dec 2021 To cttee Letter from the Chair and the Chair of the Levelling up, Housing and Communitie…
24 Jun 2021 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government relating to p…