Britain’s finance minister John Healey, in his first major speech since taking office seven weeks ago, set out the government’s plans to boost economic growth, attract private investment and reduce costs for businesses ahead of the October 28 budget. Speaking at a manufacturing hub in central England on Monday, Healey said the government would give city regions greater powers to attract private investment and announced that £150 million of funding already allocated through the British Business Bank would be earmarked for firms in northern England, reported Reuters.