Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the forecasted growth of the digital sector in the North East.

Since 2010, output of the information and communication sector in the North East has grown by 55.4%, which is the third fastest growth rate for this sector across all UK regions and nations.

The Government is taking steps to build on the UK’s highly competitive digital economy. For example, the government’s commitment since 2016 to invest an additional £7bn by 2022 in R&D is the largest increase on record. And the £21m invested in Tech Nation’s regional network is helping tech entrepreneurs across the UK to scale their businesses.

The Digital Catapult Centre is helping local businesses in the North East boost productivity by encouraging the adoption of emerging technologies.