Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential contribution of Cranfield to his plans to double the size of the economy of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.

The Chancellor has recently announced the government’s commitment to unlock growth in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and the high potential sectors within it, as part of the government’s Plan for Change to kickstart economic growth.

The Oxford-Cambridge region is home to world leading universities, and globally renowned science and technology firms. But its true potential is being held back and we need to go further to address the key barriers to growth across this region to deliver benefits for the whole country. This could, according to industry experts, boost the UK economy by £78 billion, catalysing the growth of UK science and technology. Any approach to growth should build on the assets already represented in the corridor, such as Cranfield University’s existing aerospace strengths.

As champion for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, Lord Vallance will look across the region, including Cranfield, to identify key opportunities for growth.