1 ipprs 10-point plan Closing the Gap Conference 14 June 2004 John Adams ippr north

2 10-point plan SR 2004 should set out an unambiguous target to narrow disparities in output per head across the UKs nations and regions.

3 10-point plan Employment should be given equal weight with productivity as the focus of regional policy. Policies are required to increase the demand for labour in assisted areas, which should be redefined to cover Travel to Work Areas.

4 10-point plan The EU should back the UK position of renationalising regional policy. HM Treasury needs to commit significant additional resources to compensate lagging regions for lower levels of EU spending.

5 10-point plan More good quality jobs need to be created in lagging regions to retain graduates. Basic skills and level 2 qualifications are the correct priorities for promoting employment. A period of stability in the administration of learning and skills is required.

6 10-point plan The Government should regionalise the science base by relocating key institutions and by top-slicing new spending on science for lagging regions.

7 10-point plan Government services for SMEs need to be rationalised. In particular, if the current pilots are successful the case for RDAs assuming responsibility for Business Links will be very strong.

8 10-point plan All Whitehall departments need to mainstream the regional dimension into their spending decisions. Decisions in areas such as housing, transport and science policy need to reduce regional disparities not reinforce them.

9 10-point plan Prosperous regions and localities should bear more of the costs of extra spending required to deal with the problems of success. Congestion charging and capturing increases in land values can only be the start of something bigger in terms of fiscal reform.

10 10-point plan Several Departments and Agencies should be relocated from the Greater South East to the lagging regions, such as the ODPM, HEFCE and the Research Councils.

11 10-point plan A central research unit for RDAS should be created to help promote evidence- based policy-making.

12 ipprs 10-point plan Closing the Gap Conference 14 June 2004 John Adams ippr north