Question

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with North East Local Enterprise Partnership on the timing and size of the second phase of Local Growth Deals.

The Government has a long standing relationship with the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) which has seen the successful negotiation of £289.3m to support economic growth in the first round of Growth Deals announced in July 2014.

The Government is engaged in on-going dialogue with all LEPs about the shape of the next round of Growth Deals, including the North East LEP.