§ Mr. ChallenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to ensure that the economy of the Yorkshire and Humberside region grows to the United Kingdom per capita average. [2166]
§ Alan JohnsonThe regional development agency—Yorkshire Forward—was established in April 1999 to address the economic deficit in the region. Its regional economic strategy aims to create 150,000 new jobs by 2010 and achieve above UK and European average GDP growth each year.
In 2001–02, Yorkshire Forward has a programme budget of £213 million and a cumulative target of creating with partners up to 21,000 jobs. I will be working closely with Yorkshire Forward and its partners to ensure they deliver these improvements.