Giles Watling, MP for Clacton, has questioned Ministers from the Cabinet Office on the Government’s aim of creating a level economic playing field between the north and the south. This took place at Cabinet Office Questions on 22nd January 2020, the transcript of which is below:
Giles Watling MP:
“Thank you for calling me, Mr Speaker, and may I say how lovely it is to see you in your place?The Government’s aim of creating a level economic playing field between the north and the south is laudable and much needed, but can the Minister assure me that, in the rush to create this much-needed equality, we will not overlook deprived coastal areas in the south, such as some in the Clacton constituency which have been overlooked so often in the past?”
Jake Berry MP (Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth):
“The reason that, in just 10 days’ time, we on this side of the House are getting Brexit done is so that we can drive growth across our United Kingdom. From Clacton to Caithness, from Holyhead to Hull, we will be investing millions of pounds in communities, not least £2.5 million in the coastal community of Clackers.”