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UK Parliament

Committee launches inquiry on Government's Productivity Plan

21 July 2015

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The Government's recently published Productivity Plan is the subject of a new inquiry from the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee. The inquiry—the Committee's first of the new Parliament— explores whether the Productivity Plan addresses the main causes of low productivity in the UK and whether it is likely to achieve its desired results.

The Productivity Plan covers a wide range of areas, including the tax regime for businesses, skills, science and innovation, digital infrastructure, investment and trade.

Chair's comments

Iain Wright MP, Chair of the BIS Committee said:

"Productivity is the pressing economic challenge of this Parliament and tackling the productivity gap is crucial to the UK's economic competitiveness and to improving workers' living standards. As a Committee we will keep a determined focus on scrutinising investment, regulation, innovation and skills policies designed to boost productivity. Launching this inquiry marks the start of the Committee playing a constructive role in assessing the Government's Productivity Plan and ensuring it delivers meaningful results for the UK economy."

Written submissions

The BIS Committee is keen to hear the views on the Government's Productivity Plan and welcomes written submissions which address one or more of the following questions:

  1. Do you agree with the Government's assessment of the reasons for the UK's productivity slowdown (as outlined in the Annex to the Plan)? Has the Government acknowledged all of the main causes of the UK's poor productivity growth?
  2. One pillar of the Government's Plan is to increase "long-term investment". It outlines eight areas with specific measures to increase productivity.
    a. Why has the UK's long-term investment been so low up to now?
    b. How can we ensure that the measures relating to long-term investment in the new Plan will contribute to productivity growth?
  3. The second pillar of the Government's Plan is to encourage a "dynamic economy". It outlines seven areas with specific measures to increase productivity.
    a. What are the main weaknesses of our economy, in terms of dynamism, which are supressing our productivity?
    b. Do the measures introduced under in the plan address those weaknesses and are they appropriate?
  4. Overall, does the Plan adequately address the main causes of low productivity in the UK (as discussed in question 1) and will it have the desired results?

Deadline for submissions

Written evidence should be submitted by 10 September. To submit evidence, visit the written submissions page.

Communities and Local Government Committee inquiry

The Communities and Local Government Committee (CLG) has announced that it is taking evidence on the planning measures contained in the Productivity Plan. Further information about this work is available on the CLG Committee's website:

Further information 

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