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Hull MP slams Lib Dem Cable for backtracking on Heseltine funding plan

Diana Johnson MP

12/06/13, 00:00

Hull North MP Diana Johnson has attacked the Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable for resisting Lord Heseltine's proposals on localising regeneration funding to Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).


Diana Johnson MP asked: "On 18 March, the Treasury accepted Lord Heseltine's proposals on devolving regeneration funding to local enterprise partnerships from 2015, but in late April the Business Secretary briefed journalists that "we will not be going down that road".


"Will the Minister tell us whether the Business Secretary backs the Government's plans to implement Lord Heseltine's recommendations by 2015 or not?"


The exchange took place in Business Innovation and Skills Questions in the Commons today.


Speaking afterwards Diana Johnson MP said: "After all the recent job losses that Hull has suffered and the Coalition shambles over issues such as the Caravan Tax and support for green energy, Lord Heseltine's plans for devolving regeneration funding are vital for Hull.


"The Government claimed to have accepted Lord Heseltine's proposals back in March, but after Vince Cable's comments and the answer given today this is still not clear. It was interesting that Vince Cable, the cause of the uncertainty, was not the minister who came forward to answer my question."


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