Tackling the UK trade deficit by increasing UK exports has been a vital and long-term goal of the government ever since, in 2012, Chancellor George Osborne set a target of £1 trillion for exports by 2020. The All-Party Parliamentary Trade and Investment Group has been active in raising awareness of this aim and bringing business people and politicians together to address what needs to be done. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, co-Chair of the APPG T&I, will outline current initiatives and lead a discussion on both boosting exports and attracting foreign investment.

After more than a century of relatively static models of terrestrial transport, rapid changes are occurring. Driverless vehicles, low carbon propulsion and high-speed rail are now concrete projects that will become reality in the near future. For the consumer these developments are stitched together by the use of smart phones and the Internet. There are big potential disruptions arising from these changes but also some potentially great opportunities that could benefit UK business by facilitating better and more flexible transport throughout the country. This meeting will bring together leading transport experts to discuss these issues with Industry Forum members and guests.

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Starting in November 2014 the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK’s primary competition and consumer authority, has been carrying out an investigation of the issues hindering competition in personal current accounts (PCA) and in banking services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Provisional findings and recommendations were published in May 2016 and, after receiving further submissions, the final report will be issued in August 2016. Come and hear Alasdair Smith, Chair of the investigation, set out and lead a discussion on its conclusions.

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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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