Hull to host first Bank of England forum
Hull is to host a new forum for the general public to air their views directly to senior policy makers at the Bank of England.
The Citizens’ Panel will offer people a chance to tell the Bank what they think about issues such as jobs, pay, housing and the cost of living.
Hull is the first place to host one of the new panels following two trial events last year. They will then be rolled out across the rest of the UK.
It follows a report by the Royal Society of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce which called on the Bank to create new regional panels to improve its understanding of the economy.
The Bank’s responsibilities include setting interest rates, regulation of banks and building societies, and issuing banknotes.
The Bank’s Chief Economist Andy Haldane will introduce and take part in the event in Hull. He urged people from the city and surrounding area to get involved.
Haldane, who grew up in Yorkshire, said: “Our Citizens’ Panels are a crucial new initiative for the Bank of England, allowing us to listen directly to communities and citizens right across the UK about the economic issues that affect them.
“Hearing first-hand about what matters to people will allow us to make better decisions for the good of everyone in the UK.
“I’m really looking forward to coming to Hull to hear about the things that affect people’s lives, from housing and pay to the cost of living and the financial services they use.”
The Banks’ Agent for Yorkshire and the Humber Juliette Healey said: “I hope that we can attract a wide range of applications to join the panel so that we can hear from as many diverse voices as possible.
“You certainly don’t need to be an expert on the economy to come along – the economy affects us all in different ways and it’s those various perspectives we want to hear.”
Applications to join the panel are now open and will close on February 14. For details, call the Bank’s Agency for Yorkshire and the Humber on 0113 242 0355.
