Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the Government's policy is on the future of the Northern Powerhouse.

As the Northern Powerhouse Minister I am dedicated to ensuring the government continues to prioritise its plans for building a stronger northern economy.

In January we allocated over half a billion pounds of investment directly into the Northern Powerhouse for projects to boost local growth. And in February we launched the £400 million Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund to provide small-and-medium-sized businesses with the investment they need to start-up and grow.

The Government remains absolutely committed to the Northern Powerhouse—we are already seeing real, tangible progress and will continue to work with local partners and business across the North to get the job done.