Enquiry aims to identify possible need for national government strategy
A parliamentary group has called for evidence as part of enquiry into potential benefits of a UK Government strategy on smart cities.
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Smart Cities (APPGSC) said the enquiry will look at how a national strategy could boost existing activity by public authorities, and will aim at identifying themes and priorities.
The move comes after Ian Stewart MP recently took on the leadership of the group, and will aim at producing a report some time next year, although the timesecale will depend on how many evidence sessions are held after the first round of submissions.
The group has outlined a number of questions, including what are the biggest challenges and opportunities the UK faces in developing the potential of smart cities, what three things could national government do to address these. It is also interested in the relevant powers devolved to local and combined authorities.
While the Government has been generally supportive of moves to develop smart cities, it has not developed a national strategy for the effort.
Recently, however, Greg Hands, while a minister in the Department for International Trade, highlighted efforts to support individual initiatives, and earlier this month the Government pointed to the results from investment in digital infrastructure and open data in Glasgow.
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