South East Cambridgeshire MP Lucy Frazer asked the Communities Secretary to look at going further with devolution reforms to unlock key investment for Cambridge in a House of Commons debate yesterday.

Ms Frazer welcomed and supported the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill, which aims to give more decision-making powers back to local communities, but asked the Secretary of State, Greg Clark, to consider allowing finance deals to provide funding for key infrastructure projects.

She raised the recent Case for Cambridge launch to demonstrate the need for Cambridge to have access to funding to address key development in the area.

She said: “Cambridgeshire is not asking for hand-outs; it is not asking for Government investment. It is simply asking for the power to raise money itself to invest in its own future.

If Cambridge is in a position to unlock this investment, it can plan for its own future. This funding does not need to be backed by central Government, but it needs to be available.”

Speaking afterwards, Ms Frazer said: “Cambridge is in a unique position as a net contributor to the economy, competing in international markets and attracting large corporations such as Microsoft.

I am pleased that the Government is pressing ahead with devolution, which will allow local decision makers to take charge of investment in the region, and I hope that ministers will consider my points about giving our community a chance to raise investment for our future.”