Inquiry launched in hope of fair deal from looming spending cuts

Laurie Whitwell

A MAJOR study aimed at ensuring the region gets a fair deal from looming spending cuts is being launched by a leading think-tank.

The inquiry will look at how to tackle widening imbalances between North and South and investigate what the Government can do to promote jobs and encourage growth in the region.

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With less than a fortnight to go before the Comprehensive Spending Review reveals the full extent of cuts to public funding, independent think-tank the Smith Institute has announced it will conduct a study to make sure Yorkshire and the North does not suffer unfairly.

In partnership with consultancy firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) and the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies at Newcastle University, the Smith Institute will investigate how the coalition can rebalance the economy and address unemployment in the region’s deprived areas.

The inquiry will cover infrastructure, labour markets and education, as well as examining a range of possible policy interventions, including reforms to the way public funds are allocated, job relocation schemes and potential tax breaks and incentives.

It will also question the extent to which the region’s private sector can fill the void which will open with the reduction in scale of the public sector and look at opportunities that may emerge in the North as a result of the cuts.

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The inquiry will last six months and a final report with recommendations will be submitted before the Budget.

Roger Marsh, northern leader for government and public sector at PwC, said: “It is an opportunity to stimulate wide-ranging dialogue across the entire region to establish what key investments will make a pivotal and meaningful difference to the economic well being of the North, its people and its communities.”

He added: “We need to focus on key actions to support sustained growth and jobs across the region and areas that will make a big difference to the wider economy such as the new high speed rail network connecting Leeds and Manchester to London, creating offshore wind farms in the Humber and seizing on the opportunities in the new build nuclear programme for starters.”