Million Plus

MillionPlus, the Association for Modern Universities, has today (3 March) welcomed the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee’s Industrial Strategy: First Review report.

Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of MillionPlus, said:

“MillionPlus welcomes the BEIS Committee’s First Review report, which provides a useful if early critique of the government’s industrial strategy green paper. We have long argued for research and innovation spending to be increased to at least the OECD average of 2.4% of GDP, although any increase needs to be invested in new ways if historic imbalances in regional growth and productivity are to be addressed.

“MPs have also rightly pointed out that there is an urgent need to address large differentials in spending on infrastructure in different parts of the country. As our report Universities, devolution and the industrial strategy: piecing the jigsaw together indicated, this will only get worse unless the Treasury commits to replacing the European regional and structural funding that is likely to be lost following Brexit. 

“In addition to a more co-ordinated approach across government advocated by the Committee, Ministers need to use the expertise of modern universities, which are anchor institutions in their communities, to help deliver the industrial strategy’s laudable ambition that no part of the country should be left behind.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. MillionPlus is the Association for Modern Universities. More information can be found at www.millionplus.ac.uk
2. The Industrial Strategy: First Review is available here
3. Universities, devolution and the industrial strategy: piecing the jigsaw together from MillionPlus is available here
4. For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Dan Blows on 020 7717 1658 or email press@millionplus.ac.uk