Post-pandemic economic growth: Industrial Strategy

Business and Trade Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 23 Jul 2020 Closed: 27 Sep 2021 Parliament page
In our inquiry into Post-pandemic economic growth: Industrial strategy we will look at the options available to Government to secure our economic recovery from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. We will want to examine whether the Government’s current industrial strategy is fit for purpose, whether it is genuinely strategic, … Read more
19 Recommendations
25 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
2 Letters
8 Events
Activity timeline 12 events
24 Sep
2021
Report published
28 Jun
2021
Report published
11 Mar
2021
Correspondence
4 Mar
2021
Correspondence
2 Mar
2021
Oral evidence
26 Jan
2021
Oral evidence
14 Jan
2021
Informal meeting · Virtual Meeting
15 Dec
2020
Oral evidence
10 Dec
2020
Informal meeting · Virtual Meeting
19 Nov
2020
Informal meeting · Virtual meeting
8 Oct
2020
Oral evidence
24 Sep
2020
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
2 Mar 2021
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Post
Andy Haldane · Industrial Strategy Council Charlie Mayfield · Industrial Strategy Council Dame Kate Barker CBE · Industrial Strategy Council Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell · Industrial Strategy Council
26 Jan 2021
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Oral evidence session; Oral evidence
Amanda Solloway · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Dame Ottoline Leyser · UK Research and Innovation Dick Elsy CBE · High Value Manufacturing Catapult Dr David Connell · Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge Dr Jeremy Silver · Digital Catapult Jessica Skilbeck · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Mike Biddle · Innovate UK Professor Chris Day · University of Newcastle
15 Dec 2020
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Panel 1
Catherine Lewis La Torre · British Business Bank Irene Graham · ScaleUp Institute James Wise · Balderton Capital
8 Oct 2020
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Opportunities for growth
Anthony Walker · Tech UK Gareth Stace · UK Steel Guy Newey · Energy Systems Catapult Mike Hawes · Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Nick Owen · Professional and Business Services Council Paul Everitt · ADS Group Paul Everitt · ADS Peter Ellingworth · Association of British HealthTech Industries Stephen Phipson CBE · Make UK
24 Sep 2020
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Post-pandemic economic growth: Industrial Strategy
Dr Anna Valero · LSE Kate Bell · Trades Union Congress (TUC) Rain Newton-Smith · Confederation of British Industry Rain Newton-Smith · Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Rt Hon Greg Clark · House of Commons Science and Technology Committee
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Post-pandemic economic growth: Industrial policy … HC 385 28 Jun 2021 44 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
17 results
Clear
6 Conclusion Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
The Secretary of State’s decision to axe the Industrial Strategy Council is difficult to reconcile...
The Secretary of State’s decision to axe the Industrial Strategy Council is difficult to reconcile with his conclusion that the Council did a good job - a conclusion with which we agree. The more challenging context today enhances the necessity … Read more
Government Response
The government provides a detailed overview of its Plan for Growth and strategic objectives across infrastructure, skills, and innovation, but completely ignores the committee's concern regarding the abolition of the Industrial Strategy Council and the necessity of independent oversight.
Department for Business and Trade
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7 Conclusion Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
Abolishing the Industrial Strategy Council was a retrograde step.
Abolishing the Industrial Strategy Council was a retrograde step. We are concerned that the Government has disregarded and rejected the benefit of independent long- term analysis and evaluation. Without independent scrutiny implementation of industrial policy will be compromised at best … Read more
Government Response
The government's response discusses the precedent of not sharing NERT meeting information, failing to address the committee's concern about the abolition of the Industrial Strategy Council and the need for independent scrutiny.
Department for Business and Trade
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8 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
The abolition of the Industrial Strategy Council removes the opportunity to provide independent analysis over...
The abolition of the Industrial Strategy Council removes the opportunity to provide independent analysis over industrial policy in the long term. The Government must ensure that effective scrutiny is put in place in another form in order to measure outcomes … Read more
Government Response
The government's response addresses the precedent of not publishing NERT meeting minutes, but it does not address the recommendation to ensure alternative effective scrutiny for industrial policy after the Industrial Strategy Council's abolition.
Department for Business and Trade
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10 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
The UK Government should clarify how the devolved Governments will be involved in the design...
The UK Government should clarify how the devolved Governments will be involved in the design and delivery of future policies and strategies associated with the Plan for Growth. The UK Government should implement lessons from the devolved Governments’ experience of … Read more
Government Response
The government states there has been no change in government machinery or departmental responsibilities, completely failing to clarify how devolved governments will be involved in future policies or how lessons from past engagement will be implemented.
Department for Business and Trade
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11 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
In addition to co-production with the Devolved Administrations, the Plan for Growth should be developed...
In addition to co-production with the Devolved Administrations, the Plan for Growth should be developed with regional and local leaders in England with a focus on promoting local engagement with industrial policy, and not merely a strategy document for consumption … Read more
Government Response
The government's response clarifies departmental responsibilities, but it does not address the recommendation to develop the Plan for Growth in co-production with regional and local leaders in England.
Department for Business and Trade
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13 Conclusion Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
When launched in 2017, the fundamental purpose of the Industrial Strategy was to address poor...
When launched in 2017, the fundamental purpose of the Industrial Strategy was to address poor productivity in the UK, particularly outside of the South East. However, improved productivity was not itself a Grand Challenge or mission of the strategy. This … Read more
Government Response
The government describes the core programmes of the 2017 Industrial Strategy and states that ongoing aspects will continue or evolve as part of the Plan for Growth, but does not address the conclusion regarding the strategy's perceived lack of clear purpose.
Department for Business and Trade
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14 Conclusion Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
We are concerned that the Plan for Growth lacks mission-based structures (beyond references to net...
We are concerned that the Plan for Growth lacks mission-based structures (beyond references to net zero and levelling up) or formal mechanisms for strategic sectoral engagement and support. The reduced emphasis on these elements lessens the formal complexity of the … Read more
Government Response
The government describes the ongoing delivery of programs from the 2017 Industrial Strategy but does not address the committee's concern about the lack of specific mission-based structures or formal sectoral engagement mechanisms in the new Plan for Growth.
Department for Business and Trade
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17 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
While some businesses in some sectors were aware of the strategy’s purpose and objectives, for...
While some businesses in some sectors were aware of the strategy’s purpose and objectives, for many it was distant, did not provide clear direction nor influence decision making. We would like Government to ensure that future industrial policy is easily … Read more
Government Response
The government describes the previous Industrial Strategy and states that ongoing aspects will continue, with some policies evolving as part of the Plan for Growth, but does not commit to specific actions to ensure future policy is easily understood at the grassroots.
Department for Business and Trade
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20 Conclusion Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
Each sector deal is different, some are new whilst some established in 2017 built on...
Each sector deal is different, some are new whilst some established in 2017 built on cross-sector working already in place. There is value in maintaining the sectoral approach—but clear measures of success and failure are required.
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of working collaboratively with stakeholders, but does not address the conclusion about maintaining the sectoral approach or the specific need for clear measures of success and failure for sector deals.
Department for Business and Trade
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26 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
We are concerned that so few local strategies were agreed and published, and at evidence...
We are concerned that so few local strategies were agreed and published, and at evidence which calls into question the varying ability of local institutional structures to take forward industrial policymaking. Regardless of whether the specific Local Industrial Strategy model … Read more
Government Response
The government response consists only of a report title and page number, providing no substantive engagement with the recommendation.
Department for Business and Trade
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29 Conclusion Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
The Government’s recognition of the value of the insights generated through the process of working...
The Government’s recognition of the value of the insights generated through the process of working with local areas to design, and in some cases agree, Local Industrial Strategies is welcome. However, it does not address the fundamental uncertainty regarding the … Read more
Government Response
The government gives a generic response stating its agreement that policies should support the whole economy and all parts of the UK, which does not address the committee's specific concern about the uncertain future status of local industrial strategies.
Department for Business and Trade
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31 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
The Government should clarify whether a new structure will replace Local Industrial Strategies, or what...
The Government should clarify whether a new structure will replace Local Industrial Strategies, or what form local growth plans will take in future. This would help to ensure a strategic approach can be taken to distributing funding through levelling up … Read more
Government Response
The government describes its general approach to sectoral policy, balancing horizontal and vertical interventions within the Plan for Growth, but does not clarify the future structure or form of local growth plans or their role as a focal point.
Department for Business and Trade
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32 Conclusion Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
The paucity of agreed Local Industrial Strategies ultimately limited the contribution of local insights and...
The paucity of agreed Local Industrial Strategies ultimately limited the contribution of local insights and intelligence into national industrial policy. However, co-creation of industrial policy at local and national level is the right approach and was a strength of the … Read more
Government Response
The government explains its balanced approach to horizontal and vertical sectoral policies under the Plan for Growth, but does not address the concern regarding the absence of mechanisms for co-creation and local insights to inform national policy.
Department for Business and Trade
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39 Conclusion Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
The Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) could provide a mechanism to contract for innovation...
The Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) could provide a mechanism to contract for innovation by driving public-private collaboration and encouraging 54 Post-pandemic economic growth: Industrial policy in the UK competition between commercial organisations to secure alternative sources of investment … Read more
Government Response
The government's response details existing COVID-19 support packages but does not address the committee's observation regarding the Advanced Research and Invention Agency's potential to drive innovation and public-private collaboration.
Department for Business and Trade
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40 Conclusion Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
We note the conclusion of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee that ARIA...
We note the conclusion of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee that ARIA is a “brand in search of a product” and share concerns that its function remains uncertain. ARIA’s remit and objectives are very broad and we … Read more
Government Response
The government's response discusses support packages for businesses during Covid-19, which is entirely unrelated to the committee's concerns about the focus and function of ARIA.
Department for Business and Trade
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43 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
British business should be provided with a clear picture of the landscape in which it...
British business should be provided with a clear picture of the landscape in which it will operate in the post-Brexit and post-Covid-19 era. We recommend that the Government publish an overview of the scale and nature of its future relationship … Read more
Government Response
The government generically recognises sectors undergoing rapid change but does not commit to publishing an overview of its relationship with industry, principles for SMEs, or Treasury plans for modernising procurement rules.
Department for Business and Trade
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44 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - Post-pandemic econo…
To provide clear direction the Government should present to the House an updated industrial policy...
To provide clear direction the Government should present to the House an updated industrial policy statement which sets out the Government’s strategic assessment of industrial policy in the UK. The Government should provide:(Paragraph 180) • Confirmation of who is leading … Read more
Government Response
The government's response provides a generic statement about sectors undergoing rapid change and does not address the comprehensive recommendation for an updated industrial policy statement or specific commitments.
Department for Business and Trade
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Government Response AI assessment · 44 of 19 classified
Accepted 13
Acknowledged 13
Not Addressed 17
Rejected 1
Total 19 recs + 25 conclusions
Correspondence 2 letters
11 Mar 2021 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair on the Industrial Strategy
Parliament page
4 Mar 2021 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State regarding the future of the Industrial Strategy
Parliament page