Northern Society of Chartered Accountants

Business, Innovation and Skills Committee – Powerhouses and engines inquiry launched 6 April 2016

The Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Committee has recently launched an inquiry looking at the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine, focussing on whether the Government’s devolved arrangements can deliver improved economic growth and if these models could be adopted by other regions.

Iain Wright MP, Chair of the BIS Committee said:

‘Can the Northern Powerhouse and the Midlands Engine deliver business and enterprise growth with economic benefits for their communities? What do these two slogans mean in practice for attracting investment, improving skills, encouraging growth for businesses and creating wealth in the North and the Midlands?

We’re determined to explore the nuts and bolts of these initiatives, looking at what is being delivered now and planned for the future; and whether businesses are being effectively engaged in the devolution process.  There’s been a lot of talk about the billions of economic growth that these models could yield. How realistic is this? Does the rhetoric match the reality on the ground for businesses?

We want to bring a close eye to the Northern Powerhouse and the Midlands Engine to ensure that these potentially transformative policies deliver concrete benefits for business and see whether lessons from these two areas could be used in other regions’.

Northern Powerhouse and Midland Engine

The Committee’s inquiry will focus on the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine and examine if the models for devolved decision-making and co-operation on areas such as skills, science, innovation, and R&D are delivering economic growth and whether they should be adopted in other regions.

The inquiry is looking at the following:

1. What do initiatives such as the “Northern Powerhouse” and “Midlands Engine” mean in practice for business? What evidence is there that they will bring tangible economic benefits and improve UK productivity?
2. What is the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ role in delivering the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine? What responsibilities will/should it devolve?
3. How effectively do umbrella terms such as the Northern Powerhouse unite potentially disparate business communities, local authorities and Government departments?  How effectively are business interests represented and engaged in decisions?  How do the different devolution deals in the North and relationships between local authorities impact on business?
4. Does Government have effective systems in place to measure the return on investment in the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine?  How should Government evaluate the impact of these schemes?
5. What are the implications of the focus on the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine for the South-west and the South-east outside of London?  Are there lessons that can be learned that could be applied to these regions?
6. Is there a risk that some areas can lose out as a result of devolution?  How can this risk be managed?
7. How does the level of Government investment in the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine compare to London and the South-East?  Is it sufficient to enable a stronger economy in the North that can offset the pull of London?

Let ICAEW know your views by 22 April

We are seeking to collate member views on these questions and submit them to the inquiry by the deadline of early May.  Please let us have your views by email to [email protected] by no later than 22 April 2016.

Melanie Christie
[email protected]

About Northern Society of Chartered Accountants

The Northern Society of Chartered Accountants (NorSCA) represents ICAEW members working in business and the finance profession across the North East of England, Teesside, Northern Yorkshire and Cumbria. We have been assisting businesses in the north of England and producing chartered accountants for over 130 years.