Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the amount of funding allocated from the public purse to businesses in Coventry to encourage (a) economic growth and (b) employment.

Government is actively encouraging economic growth and employment in Coventry via a number of policy initiatives and funding.

As part of Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s (CWLEP) Growth Deal, government is investing £131.84 million in the locality.

The LEP simplifies and coordinates access to business advice and support through CWLEP Growth Hub. In 2017/18, the government provided £328,000 to CWLEP to enable the Growth Hub to support local business growth and has committed to provide similar amounts in 2018/19 and 2019/20.

More widely, Innovate UK in 2016/17 invested £30.4 million to stimulate innovation and growth in the West Midlands. And the Midlands Engine Investment Fund will facilitate investment of over £250 million across the Midlands to help SMEs to achieve their growth ambitions, revitalise local economies, and create jobs.