Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effect of a sectoral approach to industrial strategy on regional inequality.

It is right that Government supports sectors across the country to grow, invest and reach their potential. This is why we have invited British business to come forward with proposals for sector deals to advance the productivity of their particular sectors.

Sector led proposals should be consistent with our Industrial Strategy and should demonstrate how they have been developed in partnership with local partners in key areas of competitive advantage for the specific sector across the country.