‘Levelling up’ inquiry launches

A group of MPs has launched an inquiry into how councils and other organisations can deliver local growth.

The business, energy and industrial strategy (BEIS) parliamentary select committee is to examine how local enterprise partnerships, regional mayoralties, and councils could be better equipped to deliver growth locally, with specific reference to the government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda.

The inquiry will look at issues such as targeted regional investment and regional funding and also how a green economic recovery could help stimulate local economies and boost skills.

More information can be found on the committee’s website and the closing date for submissions is 1 September.

‘Levelling-up is one of the main declared goals of this government,’ said committee chair, Darren Jones.

‘Ultimately, however, the success of the Prime Minister’s levelling-up agenda, in England at least, will rely on English regions having the right local structures in place to deliver meaningful local growth.

‘At present, there is a hotchpotch of institutional arrangements across the country with some areas having myriad authorities; from councils and city and regional mayors to local economic and business initiatives and powerhouses.

‘One of the questions we will explore is whether these institutional arrangements act coherently and stimulate real local growth,’ he added.

Last week, the Treasury select committee relaunched its inquiry into the decarbonisation of the UK economy and green finance.

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