ANDREA JENKYNS
Andrea questions the Prime Minister about devolution and business

Andrea questioned the Prime Minister on Wednesday for the third time since her election in May.

Andrea told the Prime Minister about TopicUK, a social enterprise based in Stanley that provides publishing services to Chambers of Commerce in the area. Originally working in West Yorkshire, they are now also operating in South Yorkshire and will be expanding into London.

The Government’s Northern Powerhouse scheme will support the growth of businesses like TopicUK by moving decisions about budgets closer to the businesses and people they will affect. A bid has been submitted for devolution based on the Leeds City Region that includes West Yorkshire, Leeds, York Craven, Harrogate and Selby.

Andrea asked the Prime Minister:

“When does the Prime Minister hope to see a metro mayor in our area, and how will devolution stimulate growth for businesses like this in the region?”

The Prime Minister answered:

“There is a real opportunity in this Parliament to make some decisive steps towards rebalancing our economy and building the northern powerhouse that we have spoken about.

“A big part of that is devolving power to local government and, specifically, to mayors who can be accountable to their local communities and have new powers and new resources to drive economic growth in their areas.

“This is a very exciting development for genuine decentralisation in our country. I very much hope West Yorkshire will be in the vanguard.”