LIBERAL DEMOCRATS SET OUT SUPPORT STRATEGY FOR MANUFACTURING

12.00.00am GMT Sun 14th Mar 2010

North East Liberal Democrats, including Fiona Hall MEP and Berwick-upon Tweed MP Sir Alan Beith, highlighted the critical need for supporting manufacturing in the North East at the party's spring conference in Birmingham last weekend. Commenting on the party's policy on manufacturing, Sir Alan said:

"Manufacturing in the North East has a long tradition and has played a fundamental role in the region's economy for the past 150 years.

"But successive Tory and Labour governments have allowed the region's strong manufacturing base to disappear and make the region over reliant on the public sector. It is simply wrong that the public sector accounts for 29% of the regional economy, yet manufacturing only accounts for 19%. The Liberal Democrats are committed to investing in North East infrastructure and its workforce to help create long-term and sustainable jobs in the region. It is time to re-balance the North East's economy.

"There will be key role in this for the refocused North East Development Agency which Liberal Democrats advocate."

Fiona, a renewable energy expert in the European Parliament's influential Industry Committee, added:

"The region now needs to take advantage of the shift towards a low carbon economy. With its outstanding research centres and facilities, wind and tidal resources and skilled workforce, the North East has the real potential to become a leader in new green technologies. Investments like the Liberal Democrat plans to put £400 million in port infrastructure in the North East to allow giant offshore wind turbines to be built in the region are crucial to help pave the way for the next generation of manufacturing."