Large cities such as Liverpool and Manchester with their large pockets of deprivation were, for a long time, considered to be part of the problem rather than the solution to economic growth. Now a programme of research promises to look into the role that large conurbations can play in driving prosperity and a series of summits over the next two months will look at the role of towns and cities both large and small.

The government will also be developing the “double devolution” concept which gives local authorities more power with the proviso that they in turn devolve more power down to local communities.