Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of frequently asked questions about the Joint Economic Commission for the North West (JEC). Simply click on the questions to reveal the answers.

What is the Joint Economic Commission?

The Joint Economic Commission for the North West has been established in response to the launch by the Prime Minister of the:

  • National Economic Council which is chaired by the Prime Minister and will coordinate economic policies across Government;
  • Regional Economic Council which will involve Regional Ministers, the Regional Development Agency chairs and other relevant groups and will ensure that the issues and concerns of each region are heard and acted on across Government; and;
  • Council of Regional Ministers which will identify common issues from across the regions and take action where appropriate, including making recommendations to the National Economic Council and the Regional Economic Council.

The JEC North West’s objectives are to:

  • review information and intelligence on the economic and social impacts of changing economic circumstances;
  • agree a regional response to them; and
  • look at opportunities to push forward both existing and planned infrastructure projects that would benefit the North West economy.

What is the Regional Economic Council?

The Regional Economic Council ensures issues and areas of concern to regions are heard and acted upon within Government. The Regional Economic Council meets quarterly, will be chaired by both SoS for BIS and the Chancellor, and membership includes Regional Ministers, RDA Chairs and representatives of business and the trade union.

What is the National Economic Council?

The National Economic Council (NEC) provides a new approach to co-ordinating economic policies across Government. Chaired by the Prime Minister, this is a full Cabinet committee.

The NEC works to help people and businesses to deal with the current economic uncertainties. It coordinates efforts to help families deal with higher food and energy prices, and provide the forum on how to equip the country for the future by making the right investments in education, skills, science and infrastructure.

The Council meets frequently to assess:

  • the implications of the ongoing challenges in the financial markets for the wider economy globally and nationally;
  • the latest developments in global commodity markets and their impact on the UK economy;
  • our objective to promote sustainable and secure energy supplies;
  • the impact of global economic developments on the skills and employment that the UK needs;
  • the remaining barriers to entrepreneurship, innovation, and the opportunities for small business growth;
  • our housing and planning needs; and
  • the impact across every part of the UK.

The job of the NEC is to frame and coordinate the appropriate departmental and cross-Governmental policy responses. It will take advice from external experts from across different sectors of the economy. It will also have a strong regional input and links to a new Regional Economic Council, which will ensure that the issues and concerns of each region are heard and acted upon across Government.

What is the Council of Regional Ministers?

The Council of Regional Ministers (CRM) meets regularly to:

  • discuss common issues and take action where appropriate including making recommendations to the Regional Economic Council and National Economic Council;
  • act as a conduit to the NEC and REC for information gathered by Regional Ministers as part of their work in their region;
  • and facilitate the dissemination of key messages by Regional Ministers, including from the National and Regional Economic Councils.

The CRM is co-chaired by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Chief Secretary of the Treasury and the deputy chair is the Minister of State, Communities and Local Government. All Regional Ministers are members, as are Ministers representing Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The CRM’s remit is to:

  • help to ensure that the work of key regional public sector bodies is properly coordinated to address short term challenges and opportunities;
  • disseminate key messages for Regional Ministers to use in their discussions in the regions. This will include the narrative agreed by the NEC; and
  • act as a conduit to the NEC and REC, for information generated by Regional Ministers’ work in their region. Regional Ministers will of course continue to raise specific issues bilaterally with Departments in the normal way.

What is the relationship between the NEC, REC and CRM?

It is expected the NEC will influence the communications work of the CRM. The REC will be the outward facing Council, involving non-governmental parties who can feed in perspectives from the bottom up, and a sounding board for Government and the forum for review of policy. It will discuss actions from the NEC and CRM and feedback views of its members to the NEC.

Why do we need all these bodies?

The National Economic Council will focus on every part of the UK, looking at what the best approach is for co-ordinating economic policies across Government that address the ongoing challenges.

The Regional Economic Council will ensure that the issues and concerns of each English region are heard and acted upon across Government.

The Council of Regional Ministers will work alongside the National and Regional Economic Councils to ensure that the work of key regional public sector bodies is coordinated and to disseminate key messages for Regional Ministers to use in their discussions in the regions. There will be a close interface between all councils.

How does the JEC relate to the other bodies?

Issues and priorities identified by the JEC for concerted action at a national level are taken forward for discussion at the Council of Regional Ministers. There is also an opportunity for the JEC to feed into the Regional Economic Council. Ultimately this feeds into the National Economic Council chaired by the Prime Minister. In addition, the JEC informs the Regional Ministers ongoing discussions held with partners at a regional and local level.