To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership on devolving powers and responsibilities from Whitehall.
Answered on
14 October 2014
In November last year the Government agreed the Southampton and Portsmouth City Deal with the Local Enterprise Partnership. The deal included a range of infrastructure, skills, business support and labour market schemes.
Building on this I was delighted to announce a significant Growth Deal worth almost £125 million for the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership in July this year. This includes a substantial commitment for transport improvements in the Fareham and Gosport Peninsula which will cut journey times from Gosport to Portsmouth; investment in local colleges; the establishment of a Land and Property Board that will secure the release of public land; and additional investment in business support services.