Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Communities and Local Government on the role of rural enterprise zones in the Midlands growth engine.

As the Department responsible for Enterprise Zones and the Government’s lead on the Midlands Engine, we consider Enterprise Zones and Food Enterprise Zones to have an important role in stimulating growth in our rural economy, attracting investment and jobs to the Midlands Engine area.

Two Enterprise Zones in predominantly rural areas of the Midlands Engine have helped to attract businesses and new investment from around the world. Five Food Enterprise Zones in Greater Lincolnshire, Melton and Wychavon will be working to attract investment and encourage greater collaboration between British food and farming businesses.