MP calls for more spending in North West

A CALL for more capital spending in the North West has been made by Warrington South MP David Mowat.
Speaking in a Commons debate on growth he highlighted the disparity in capital investment between London and the North West.
The MP also focused on the importance of energy, particularly nuclear, in promoting economic growth.
Mr Mowat (pictured) said there were three key issues that the Government needed to tackle – the huge regional disparities in economic performance, improving infrastructure and reducing energy prices and producing more graduates in subjects like science and engineering.
He said: “The gross value added per person for the English regions that we have inherited is about half that for London and 20 per cent less than that in the South East.”
Mr Mowat said this imbalance was “staggering” and needed to be put right by Government policies.
He said: “We have a country that is very London and South-East focused. I spent 30 years in business constantly fighting initiatives to move functions to London, and fighting the idea, ‘This is important; we’ll have to do it in London.’ That is a very tough thing to have to do, and it is like pushing water uphill all the time.
“Another statistic that people might like to consider is that capital spend per head under the previous Government was 50 per cent higher in London than in the North West. That is a terrible statistic, because capital spending at that level creates private sector jobs and thereby creates affluence and prosperity.”