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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the role of business partners in the Northern Powerhouse; what contributions, financial and otherwise, they are expected to make; what responsibilities are placed upon them in their role as partners; and whether they are entitled to representation of any kind in the decision-making processes of the Northern Powerhouse, or access to Ministers and other decision-makers, that is not available to other businesses.

The high level aim of our partnership programme is to jointly promote the key strengths and areas of development across the North, in particular focusing on:

1) Connectivity and transport

2) Skills, science and innovation

3) Quality of life and culture, and

4) Devolution.

This Government wants to promote and celebrate major projects in the North and showcase the tangible growth of the Northern economy. Partners will be representative of the whole of the North and will cover different institutions, businesses and sectors. At no stage are partners asked to make a financial contribution or commitment to become a partner.

The Government will offer partners:

1) The opportunity to champion the North’s strengths, and promote new and exciting local developments across transport, skills and innovation, culture, and devolution.

2) Access to a network of like-minded partners who are promoting the North, with the opportunity for collaboration.

3) Support from Government on partnering with the Northern Powerhouse across all our channels, and the opportunity to support and participate with Government events when appropriate.