Bradford-born Liberal Democrat peer Lord Greaves calls for 'huge transfer of resources and power to the North'

Liberal Democrat Peer Tony Greaves, who was born in Bradford, asked the Government about the consequences of its COVID-19 policies and on its stated aims of narrowing inequality in England during House of Lords questions today.

Lord Greaves said: "The Northern Health Science Alliance reported two days ago that Covid has made economic inequalities worse, with reductions in mental wellbeing in the North costing the economy £5bn a year and that more people in the North have died."

The alliance reported that an extra 57.7 more people per 100,000 died in the so-called Northern Powerhouse area than the rest of England between March and July.

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership has also called for a Northern Economic Recovery plan, noted Lord Greaves, while the Local Government Association has said core services have been cut by half in some areas and more reductions would make their circumstances worse, he added.

Lord Greaves said: "Is it not now time, my Lords, for a huge transfer to the North of resources of all kinds - and the powers to use them?"

Baroness Joanna Penn, responding on the Government's behalf, told the House: "The Government recognises the significant impact of Covid-19 on every region and nation of the UK and remains committed to levelling up opportunity across the country.

"In recognition of this we've announced unprecedented support for businesses, workers and local authorities across the UK, including support for 2.7 million people through theSelf-Employment Income Support Scheme and extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which has already supported 9.6 million jobs and provided over £63 billion in business support loans."

She later highlighted the £3.6 billion Towns Fund, saying it supports at least 45 places in the "Northern Powerhouse" regions and 30 in the Midlands.

Lord Greaves' intervention came after the Treasury yesterday gave its clearest indication yet of revisions to a system that could allow major projects to be signed off more readily in Yorkshire.

Exchequer Secretary Kemi Badenoch confirmed that an update to her department's Green Book - the guidance issued by the Treasury on how to appraise policies, programmes and projects - would be published when the Government conducts its Spending Review later this month.