TUC welcome for government's adoption of Heseltine plan

date: 18 March 2013

embargo: For immediate release

Welcoming the news today (Monday) that the government is to adopt the overwhelming majority of the recommendations contained in Lord Heseltine's No Stone Unturned report published last autumn, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

'Hopefully we are seeing the beginnings of a new co-ordinated approach to industry across government to generate much-needed growth in the economy and establish a secure future for UK manufacturing.

'A single pot of money to help drive growth across the UK that will be managed by a network of local enterprise partnerships will help focus much-needed investment in the regions.

'Similarly the establishment of ten sector councils along the lines of the current automotive council suggests that ministers understand that our industrial sector can only succeed with the active involvement of government.

'We welcome the acceptance of Lord Heseltine's recommendation for a national growth strategy, with targets to which it can be held to account. But on all of these bodies - including the local enterprise partnerships - the government needs to recognise the importance of places on them for unions. The hundreds of thousands of people currently employed in UK industry will want to have their voices heard at such an important table - and be able to make a key contribution to the debate.

'But much of Lord Heseltine's recommendations won't begin to see the light of day until 2015, when what the economy could really do with is a boost right now. When George Osborne delivers his budget on Wednesday, he could get things started by announcing bold new infrastructure spending on social housing or on an update of our transport and energy networks.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk