Press Release

VITAL POLICY RESEARCH TO NARROW NORTH/SOUTH DIVIDE

27th November 2007

John Hutton MP today (November 27, 2007) announced additional government funding to boost vital research and policy analysis to establish new and innovative ways to narrow the North/South divide.

The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) revealed the Government support when he addressed an audience of economic development and regeneration experts along with business leaders via a pre-recorded message at the Northern Way Summit 07, at the Sage, Gateshead.

The £3million investment will match the figure already allocated by the three northern Regional Development Agencies to develop a programme of research and policy analysis to build a comprehensive understanding of the economy of the North of England and inform proposals for enhancing its performance.

Mr Hutton also reinforced the Government’s support of the Northern Way’s work to date, by announcing and endorsing the creation of a new Northern Private Investment Commission to be set up by the Northern Way.

He said: "I believe the North of England is now better placed than for many years to secure greater economic prosperity and narrow the gap with other regions.  The city regions of the North are tackling long-standing economic problems with renewed confidence, securing increased levels of private investment. 

“I strongly support the work of the Northern Way and the three northern Regional Development Agencies, in delivering this challenge. I particularly want to encourage the Northern Way to be radical and innovative in promoting action across the North to deliver economic change."

The Northern Way has established a track record in evidence development to inform its work in areas including transport, innovation, employment and collaboration between city regions.

Its evidence-based approach to bringing about changes for the North will also be adopted by the new Northern Private Investment Commission, which will investigate the key barriers to greater private sector investment in the North, how to build on recent successes and learn lessons.

Andrew Lewis, Director of the Northern Way, said: “This welcome Government support will help ensure our next phase of work between 2008 and 2011 will place an even greater emphasis on research and policy analysis.

“It will help us establish a sound understanding of the economy of the North of England; how it is structured and how it works, how it is connected internally and externally and what the opportunities and challenges are for the future.

“Over the next 12 months the new Northern Private Investment Commission will, amongst other things, consider the evidence of the degree to which the North is open to more significant financial investment from the private sector and will also consider how to build on existing successes, to learn lessons that might be replicated across the North.”