Norfolk MP George Freeman has been given a job shaping policy for new prime minister Theresa May as chairman of her policy board. As a backbencher in 2013 he made the following suggestions in a report co-authored with fellow MP Kwasi Kwarteng.

Downing Street and Mr Freeman have declined to comment on whether he stands by the suggestions put forward in The Innovation Economy Industrial Policy for the 21st Century report and whether they could form part of future government policy.

We should exempt new firms for their first three years from employers' national insurance, business rates, corporation tax and employment legislation, although it could be restricted to companies with fewer than three employees or £500,000 in turnover to reduce costs.

Regionalise public sector pay and the minimum wage. By maintaining uniform national minimum wages and wage rates in the public sector, the Government creates imbalances in regional labour markets.

Renewable subsidies should be abolished, and replaced by a uniform carbon tax and subsidised basic research.

Network Rail should be broken up into regional franchises with the power to issue bonds, merge train and track, and develop integrated housing and infrastructure investment.

Public sector productivity lags behind the rest of the economy. This increases the burden on the private sector, and ensures that we all eventually pay more for less.

Introduce a growth and competitiveness duty for Government departments.

Encourage public sector agencies to earn additional income.

Specialist public sector agencies like the examination boards, Care Quality Commission, or the Highway Agency and Network Rail should be encouraged to go and win business from around the world. They should be encouraged to offer additional services and earn money in the UK.