MPs to quiz Gove on delivery of freeports scheme
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove will appear before MPs next week in an evidence session on the Government’s freeports and investment zones policy.
The session is part of the Business and Trade Committee’s inquiry into freeports and investment zones in England. Freeports and investment zones relax rules on taxation within specific areas, based around ports and universities respectively. The Government says this will help stimulate growth in the wider region.
Meeting details
MPs are likely to quiz Mr Gove how this latest policy will drive regional growth, how it differs from previous efforts, and how likely the Government’s package of incentives are to create additional jobs in the selected regions over moving them around the UK.
They may ask how the scheme fits within other local growth policies, such as Enterprise Zones, Innovation Accelerators, and City Region Transport Settlements, and whether devolved authorities have the capacity to deliver these projects.
MPs may also ask the Secretary of State how his Department will ensure the freeports and investment zones deliver transparency and value for money, and how the Government’s progress and delivery will be scrutinised.