To boldly go

Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North, has welcomed news that the UK’s £4.7 billion of science resource funding will be protected. New Enterprise zones will be also be created in Norfolk and Suffolk at Great Yarmouth & Lowestoft, Cambridge Compass, Luton Airport and Hertfordshire Enviro-tech, with the New Anglia Enterprise Zone to be extended.

 

Managed by Local Enterprise Partnerships, these zones provide incentives to businesses to set up and for councils to reinvest in local economies, driving growth and supporting job creation across East Anglia.

 

Across the UK, Enterprise Zones have already supported over 15,000 jobs and leveraged £2 billion in private investment.

 

Commenting on the news Chloe said:

 

“We’ve got some of the best researchers in the world here in Norwich, it’s vital that they get the support they need to tackle the major challenges that we face going forward.

 

“The science budget will be £500 million higher by the end of the decade, meaning we can continue to engage in world leading research at the cutting edge of discovery. New and extended Enterprise Zones will also provide a big boost for jobs in our region.”

 

In addition to protecting the science budget, the Chancellor has also announced extra financial support for students, including the extension of student loans to include post-grads.

 

Chloe said:

 

“This is great news for anyone considering going to university, especially for those considering post-graduate study. For too long people have been put off by a lack of available finance, meaning that some career paths were completely off limits to them.

 

“Increasing financial support for higher education is all part of our plan to increase opportunity so that everyone has the chance to succeed.”