Ex-cabinet minister Justine Greening to debate ‘levelling up’ and public services with peers
Monday 22 February 2021
Former MP and cabinet minister Justine Greening will join academics and peers this week (Wednesday 24 February from 4.00 p.m.) to debate the Government’s ‘levelling up’ plans and what they mean for public services.
The Conservative Party’s 2019 election manifesto committed to “levelling up every part of the UK” and linked this to devolving power to towns, cities and rural and coastal areas.
The House of Lords Public Services Committee will hear from:
- Justine Greening, Chair, Levelling Up Goals campaign
- Jonathan Webb, Senior Policy Fellow, IPPR North
- Professor Michael Kenny, Inaugural Director, Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge
Likely questions and areas of discussion include:
- What role should investing in social infrastructure and reforming public services play in the Government’s ‘levelling up’ strategy?
- How might the ‘levelling up’ strategy support voluntary sector organisations such as community groups and charities?
- What role should educational and health outcomes, and levels of access to community services, play in the criteria for deciding which areas will receive investment under ‘levelling up’?
- How should the Government’s progress in ‘levelling up’ be measured?
- What should the forthcoming English Devolution White Paper say about the responsibility of local government to deliver public services?
The virtual session will be live on Parliament TV.
