Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of economic growth in Birmingham.

This Government is committed to creating an environment in which high economic growth benefits all. The latest data indicate that Birmingham’s output grew by 6% from 2010 to 2020. This compares to growth of 6% for the UK economy over the same period.

However, as outlined in the Levelling up White Paper, some of the UK’s most successful cities lag behind their international comparators when it comes to productivity and incomes. This is why the Government is committed to supporting Birmingham’s potential to grow even further, including through the Levelling up Fund, where £52.5m was awarded to three Birmingham based projects as part of the first round.

In addition, and building on the existing £1.1bn devolution deal, this Government is negotiating a deeper, trailblazer devolution deal with the West Midlands Combined Authority that will devolve further skills, housing, transport and net zero powers to the Combined Authority to drive growth in the region.