Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Martin Vickers and Lord Hammond of Runnymede

Tuesday 29th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con)]

When I met the leader of North East Lincolnshire Council yesterday, he emphasised to me that one of the major challenges facing our coastal community is that many people retire there and put additional strains on the adult social care budget. Will Ministers assure me that that will be considered when allocating departmental budgets?

[Mr Philip Hammond]

Yes, demographic trends are of course at the heart of our considerations when budgets are allocated.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Martin Vickers and Lord Hammond of Runnymede

Tuesday 25th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con)]

1. What steps he is taking to support economic growth outside London and the south-east.

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

Creating an economy that works for all is a key priority of this Government. All regions are benefiting from the £12 billion local growth fund, and our industrial strategy will boost sustainable economic growth across the UK. Devolution deals are giving areas the tools they need to make the right economic decisions. We are supporting the northern powerhouse and the midlands engine, and we are investing more than £100 billion in infrastructure across the UK over the course of this Parliament.

[Martin Vickers]

I thank the Chancellor for his reply and am encouraged by it, but there has always been a feeling in northern Lincolnshire that we are somewhat peripheral from the northern powerhouse and that the focus has been too much on Leeds and Manchester. Could he reassure us that that is not the case? North East Lincolnshire Council has a number of innovative regeneration projects in process. Will he or one of his team agree to meet a delegation from north-east Lincolnshire in order to pursue them?

[Mr Hammond]

I reassure my hon. Friend that that is not the case. North-east Lincolnshire is very much a focus of the Government’s attention. We have agreed growth deals with the Humber local enterprise partnership worth more than £110 million, including support for a regeneration programme for the centre of Cleethorpes. I am sure that one of my ministerial team will be very happy to meet him and his council colleagues.