Gordon Brown praises region but gives no cash pledge

Jul 3 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

Asked if the region’s previous poor record on recovering from economic downturns should justify it escaping the brunt of any funding cuts, Mr Brown was characteristically elusive.

“This week we announced special help that will go to parts of the community that have high unemployment and a guarantee to the unemployed that they will have work or training,” Mr Brown said.

Pushed on the need to safeguard North East funding, Mr Brown would only say that “a very substantial part” of his jobs programme would come to the North and avoided mention of the One North East development agency.

He added: “Where we can help people in difficulty we will put the money in.”

Despite a restricted budget, the prime minister was adamant that there is sufficient backing, both in financial resources and ministerial help, to ensure the region leads the way in renewable energy.

He singled out carbon capture and storage, in which coal is burnt in power stations equipped to reduce dangerous greenhouse gasses, as having the potential to be as important a source of energy and jobs as wind is in the region.

For more on the Prime Minister’s meeting and his question and answers session at the Discovery Museum, see tomorrow’s Journal.

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