Chamber reaction to Chancellor’s fiscal statement
Date published:
Commenting on the Chancellor’s Fiscal Statement, John McCabe, Chief Executive of the North East England Chamber of Commerce said:
“On behalf of our members right across the North East we are pleased to see Government act quickly to address a number of pressing economic challenges.
“The big-ticket items around Investment Zones, planning and infrastructure all have real opportunity to accelerate growth across the region. But we’ll need to see the freedoms and flexibilities proposed backed-up with investment and a continued commitment to genuine local autonomy. This is particularly important in the North East: further devolution in the North of the region will be a key tool in helping Government achieve its goals. We’ll also be working with our members to make sure any unintended consequences of these changes, such as the displacing of talent or investment, are designed out of the process so that they can work for the whole of the North East.
“The Government now has a challenging task ahead of it: to achieve its tax cutting agenda whilst sustaining public investment which we know is at the heart of productive and thriving places. The Government’s plan is one part of the solution. But in a week where we’ve seen the North East top the league for the highest rates of child poverty nationally we look forward to working with the Chancellor on skills, inclusion and the wider Levelling Up agenda.
“It’s good to have a plan. What we need now is a strategy – a comprehensive, long-term and clear policy agenda for growth to give businesses and people in the North East confidence in our shared future.”