A North East business leader has told the Government to use the devolution process to give the region the powers it needs to turn around its economy.
North East England Chamber of Commerce chief executive John McCabe met with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt today as part of a meeting arranged by the British Chambers of Commerce, focused on local economic growth. The meeting comes amid conflicting signals on the strength of the North East economy, with figures last month showing the region having the lowest unemployment rate on record, but separate statistics also showing high levels of low pay, child poverty and people using food banks in the region.
At the meeting, Mr McCabe said that businesses were optimistic about prospects for economic growth, but that there were still major challenges for companies as they battled stubbornly-high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain problems. And he called for the North East devolution deal currently being agreed between local leaders and the Government to pass powers on skills, housing and transport that would support economic growth to local people.
