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29/11/12

David Frost comments on the Autumn Statement

" The Autumn Statement on the 5th December should provide a clear indicator as to how the Chancellor and the Treasury have bought into the heart of Lord Heseltine's Review and his recommendations.

The central thrust of establishing a single pot, bringing together funding for skills, local infrastructure, employment and business support, and then devolving this to local areas, is seen as crucial by many who are trying to re-generate their local economies.

I am struck not only by the level of commitment by LEP Boards to this agenda, but also by a sense of frustration about the lack of progress. A clear view that across the country there are real opportunities for development and growth, where  with some targeted support , rapid progress  could be made in creating new development and consequent investment and jobs.

The Autumn Statement will primarily be judged as to whether there is a coherent Government Plan to foster growth in the economy but there needs to be an understanding from Government that it cannot micro manage the economy. As Lord Heseltine clearly identified, real progress will come from far more local determination.

Separately, we have had yet another report on skills – The Richard Report on Apprenticeships. At the heart of this is placing employers at the centre of the system, with clear and trusted qualifications, and putting purchasing power in the hands of the employer. Business has long promoted this idea and we can only hope that this Report is treated by officials with both seriousness and urgency. The tide is moving in the right direction, as anyone who attended the Skills Show at the NEC would have seen earlier this month"

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