Oral Answers to Questions

Luciana Berger Excerpts

Tuesday 25th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hammond]

Our intention is to get the very best deal we can with our neighbours in the European Union to allow access for our companies to trade their goods and services into the EU. However, I would just caution my hon. Friend: to look at the economic arguments alone is to miss an important point. There is a political debate going on here in Europe, and European politicians are very conscious of the impact of Britain’s departure on their political project. I do not think we can be certain that economics alone will dictate the course of this negotiation.

[Luciana Berger (Liverpool, Wavertree) (Lab/Co-op)]

13. What assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on (a) the northern powerhouse and (b) regional funding.

[The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Philip Hammond)]

The Government have provided a guarantee for all European structural and investment fund projects signed before the autumn statement. We have also provided a guarantee for all ESIF projects signed after the autumn statement and before the UK’s departure from the European Union, provided that they pass the value-for-money test and are in line with domestic strategic priorities.

[Luciana Berger]

I have listened closely to the Chancellor’s previous answers about regional distribution of investment. The latest figures show that only a quarter of national infrastructure projects are in either the north-west or the north-east of England, with just one of the top-funded 25 projects in that area. With further damaging cuts to public sector net investment due in the remainder of this Parliament, when will the Government address this inequality, match their rhetoric with action and start properly funding the northern powerhouse?