Is the Plan for Growth fit for purpose? Lords Committee expresses concerns at gaps in Government’s flagship economic strategy
Wednesday 7 July 2021
The Government’s Plan for Growth lacks effective focus, fair opportunities for parliamentary scrutiny and necessary consultation with stakeholders, a Lords Committee warns.
The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee today publishes a letter to Treasury Minister Kemi Badenoch, raising concerns about gaps in the Plan for Growth.
In its letter, the Committee highlights the vast scope and scale of the Plan for Growth. It urges the Government to improve its prioritisation of policy initiatives to improve the Plan’s focus and chances of success.
The Committee expresses concerns about the opportunities for key stakeholders to provide their insight. The Committee calls for improved consultation between Government and businesses, consumers, and devolved administrations.
Members also urge the Government to reconsider the existing reporting system included in the Plan for Growth and calls for more effective channels for scrutiny of the Plan’s implementation.
Lord Hollick, Committee Chair, said:
“It remains unclear what the Government’s priorities are to recover from the pandemic, boost productivity and economic growth, and deliver net zero by 2050. The Plan for Growth fails to outline these priorities.
“Although the Government has scrapped the Industrial Strategy Council, it has not introduced a system of reporting for the Plan for Growth, which will inhibit effective parliamentary scrutiny. The Government needs to take into account the views of key partners, including businesses large and small, consumers and the devolved administrations.”
Read the letter and find more information on the Committee’s webpage.
