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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Energy and climate change are two of the most important issues affecting the UK economy. It is no exaggeration to say that our economy is built upon energy that comes mainly from carbon-based fuels, but the emissions from these fuels are causing temperature increases in the environment that cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely. Making a safe transition to a lower carbon economy is, however, a major challenge that requires maintaining acceptable costs for consumers and industry despite geopolitical, economic and technological uncertainties. Come and hear Angus MacNeil MP, the new Chair of the Select Committee on Energy and Climate Change talk about such issues and also comment on the outcome of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference.

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The relationship of the United Kingdom with the European Union is entering a new and possibly decisive chapter. The UK is seeking a new settlement with its European partners through renegotiation, and will put the result to a public vote, asking in a referendum whether to stay in the European Union or to leave.

This conference is part of a project to examine different aspects of the UK’s relationship with the EU and the impact current developments will have on this relationship. Starting with a discussion of the renegotiation agenda and the referendum ahead, the conference will then discuss how the future relations between members and non-members of the Eurozone, such as the UK, can be managed. Finally there will be a debate on the democratic legitimacy of the European institutions.

This conference will offer a great opportunity to hear from expert speakers from a variety of backgrounds, and explore in depth the difficult questions facing the UK and her European partners.

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