Nissan supremo Trevor Mann backs agency

Feb 15 2010 by William Green, The Journal

He said: “The North East has around 12 different councils and to try to pull all those together in a co-ordinated manner could be very difficult.

“So to have an organisation that supports the cross-boundary activities I think has been extremely successful and will continue to be in the future.”

He added: “All I can say is that One North East, as far as I can say, works and I would be very interested to see the counter proposals.”

The three main political parties are split on regional economic development policy ahead of the General Election campaign due to get under way soon.

The Conservative policy is unclear, with Shadow Business Secretary Ken Clarke promising to dump One North East – but then admitting that he could yet save it if the Tories win power – if it makes a case for its own survival.

A David Cameron administration plans to hand development money to economic partnerships with elected councillors taking the lead, working with business chiefs. They could potentially be based around Tyneside, Wearside and Teesside.

But Mr Clarke says One North East could be saved if the region presented such a case to an incoming government.

Labour is backing the current regional development agency structure, with Business Secretary Lord Mandelson describing One North East as the “essential bridge” in bringing regional strengths like university research to the market place.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has called for a “cull” of development agencies to cut costs, but local activists say the party’s policy has been “misunderstood”.

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