North East Local Enterprise Partnership response to autumn statement

Helen Golightly OBE, Chief Executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP), has commented on today’s autumn statement, saying: 

“Jeremy Hunt’s priority was to stabilise the economy and protect the most vulnerable at a time when the economic prospects look bleak for a sustained period. The OBR have confirmed that the UK is in a recession. 

“The changes to tax and spending will impact across people in most income bands in the region and reduce money available for public services. We welcome the commitment to continue to support our residents through the energy price cap.

“For businesses and the economy, the continuing commitment to capital and research expenditure is welcome, as is the additional support to people in the labour force given OBR predictions of a rise in unemployment.

“For the North East, we await to hear more about our devolution deal, Shared Prosperity Funding and the revised Investment Zones proposal.”