Winter fuel U-turn to be dealt with in the autumn, minister confirms
R&D boost will allow ‘regions to lead the way’, mayors say as they welcome science and tech investment
Under minister’s plans to boost research and development, at least £30m will be invested in each of the seven mayoral authorities in England – Greater Manchester, West Midlands, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region, North East and Greater London.
The same amount will be invested in one equivalent region in each of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to be agreed with devolved governments.
A further £5m will be invested to launch a new partnership between “the high-growth regions of Manchester and Cambridge, strengthening the link between these hubs of innovation to attract more business investment”.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “Our region is already an advanced manufacturing powerhouse and this announcement boosts my mission to create new growth, new jobs and new opportunities in two exciting ways.
“We will now be able to support more research and development projects in established sectors, like the car industry and green energy, which are cornerstones of the North East economy, and we can also invest in new technologies from kitchen table innovations to our fast-emerging trailblazers in the space industry and AI.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “This is exactly how we turn our potential into progress.
“This investment backs regions to lead the way in the industries that will define the future.
“From life sciences and advanced manufacturing to clean energy and AI, regions across the UK have the skills and the ideas – they just need the investment and the power to match.
“This will drive innovation that not only grows the economy but creates jobs, builds opportunity, improves health and changes lives.”
