NORTHERN POWERHOUSE CONFERENCE: HM Treasury’s commercial secretary has announced plans for an Oyster Card-style contactless transport payment method for the North of England.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley made the announcement in conversation with BBC journalist John Humprys at the UK Northern Powerhouse Conference 2016 in Manchester.
He said connectivity was key to the government’s northern powerhouse strategy, saying the area between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield could become a global powerhouse on a par with London.
While he stressed that the northern powerhouse was not limited to those cities, he said connecting the 10m people living between those cities would give the areas a chance of having “global significance”.
He said we are only in the first phase of devolving powers to Nothern cities and rural areas, with further announcements expected in the near future.
He said: “It is very important for other government departments as well as everyone around the country to realise that this is something which is a major priority of the current government.”
However, he said it was ultimately up to business people to make sure the northern powerhouse was a success.
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