Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dan Tomlinson and Dan Carden

Tuesday 8th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Dan Carden (Liverpool Walton) (Lab)]

11. What steps he is taking with local leaders to attract private investment into areas that have historically received lower levels of investment.

[The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Dan Tomlinson)]

My hon. Friends are right to ask these critical questions, and I agree with them that private investment is critical to delivering good growth in every postcode. The Prime Minister and the Chancellor have been clear that centralisation of power has led to too much of the country losing out on investment, leading to lower productivity and lower living standards for our constituents. The Chancellor set out yesterday his vision to shift power and resources so that they sit with local leaders, to enable long-term local investment and industrial strategies that will crowd in private investment.

[Dan Tomlinson]

I fully agree with my hon. Friend that going forth and prospering is a very good objective, and I look forward to working with her and the local businesses in her constituency that she has raised with me, including Mantec and Goodwin. There are some fantastic ceramics and advanced manufacturing businesses that we need to identify, and across the Treasury and No. 10 North, we will work with local leaders and parliamentarians to ensure that we can identify the right clusters in the right places to back and support.

[Dan Carden]

Last month, Liverpool city region’s visitor economy reached £6.8 billion, and our productivity growth is currently running at four times the national average. The region has an incredibly exciting plan to redevelop Central station in the city centre and link it to Lime Street. It would be one of the most important growth stories and opportunities for the whole of the north of England, and it would drive billions in investment from the private sector. When the Minister visits us for the party conference, will he take a bit of time to meet Mayor Rotheram and the leader of the council, Liam Robinson, to see their exciting plans?

[Dan Tomlinson]

I am delighted to inform my hon. Friend that my conference calendar already includes a meeting with local leaders in Liverpool to talk about what we can do to back growth and investment in his city and region. I have been in conversations already with the mayor of the city region about the things that he wants to work on and focus on to boost economic growth, and that includes the Liverpool Central development.