Given the importance of the City to the UK economy, it has become the custom that the Economic Secretary to the Treasury should also take the title of the ‘City Minister’. Richard Burgon MP has this role in John McDonnell’s shadow Treasury team which was described at a recent conference as ‘simply fizzing with new ideas to get the economy moving’. Richard is keen to focus on the creation of highly skilled, highly paid jobs, and the help the City can provide in rebalancing and growing the economy while avoiding some of the problems that have occurred in recent years. Come and hear Richard outline his aims and engage in a dialogue about what needs to be done.

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Despite the recent restoration of growth in the UK economy, major economic issues remain in terms of low relative productivity and costs, delays and inconvenience arising from transport systems. Each of these can be addressed, at least in part, by modernising transport infrastructure such as  airports, roads and railways. The Transport Select Committee has a wide remit to comment on such topics and also deals with health issues arising from vehicle emissions and other safety risks. The Committee has recently issued a report urging the government to provide a clear timetable for south east airport expansion. Louise Ellman MP, Chair of the Transport Select Committee will outline her views on the current key transport issues, and the need to take decisions.

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The Kerslake Review

The Treasury is a uniquely powerful government department, making the major spending decisions for the whole of the British state, while directing and overseeing plans for the country’s economy. The aim of this review, which has been commissioned by the Shadow Chancellor, is to bring together evidence on whether the current role and structures of the Treasury are appropriate to the task of promoting and managing sustainable growth in a fairer and more equal society, and to make recommendations. It is led by cross-bench peer, Lord Bob Kerslake, who is supported by a panel of independent experts from a wide range of backgrounds and with experience of the Treasury, academia, the public and private sectors. Come and hear Lord Kerslake outline the objectives of the review and progress to date, and also contribute any thoughts you have on how the performance of the Treasury might be improved.

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Pension policies are of critical importance to individuals and employing organisations alike. Their effects are long-lasting and they are significantly affected by changing economic conditions, central bank policies and increasing longevity. The government has made changes to the basic pension, the retirement age, incentives for saving, and access to pension savings. Nevertheless, few young people are saving for a pension, the pension pot of most retirees is extremely small and many private pension schemes are underfunded. Baroness Altmann has long business experience of investment and pensions and has led a number of campaigns on pension issues. Come and hear her speak, in her role as Minister of State for Pensions, on current government pension initiatives and her thoughts about what might be needed in the future.

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The UK has a strong portfolio of industries, businesses, innovative talent, and professional and vocational skills. Nevertheless the country has not always been able to apply these strengths to increase its competitiveness, increase real wages and reduce the stubbornly high trade deficit. Modern thinking on industrial strategy is a far cry from detailed central planning and state control of large sectors of the economy. Instead it focuses on the strengths and opportunities available to a country and the extent to which the state can support these by, for example, providing infrastructure investment, training and research, in a coordinated way that the private sector does not undertake. Come and hear Angela Eagle MP, Labour’s shadow BIS minister, outline her thinking and discuss what BIS could do to improve the performance of the economy, and the benefits that a fresh approach could bring.

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EU membership is a contentious issue in the UK and, with the aim of resolving the matter, the Prime Minister, David Cameron has announced ‘a stay or leave’ referendum to take place on 23 June 2016. This is on the back of a deal that the Prime Minister negotiated with the other EU member states in February this year, and which the government recommends to the electorate. Come and hear the Rt Hon David Lidington MP, the long-serving Minister of State for Europe, give a timely update on the government’s objectives, the Brussels deal and why it represents the best outcome from the EU negotiations.

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