§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on manufacturing industry in(a) the North West and (b) Lancashire. [136917]
§ Jacqui SmithManufacturing in the North West℄and especially in Lancashire℄remains vitally important to the regional and national economy. It contributes around £19 billion to the region's GDP, accounts for some £14 billion worth of exports and employs around 500,000 people, and its importance is reflected in the Regional Economic Strategy and Manufacturing Strategy. North West manufacturers have identified a number of key issues, including the need for more skilled personnel, greater availability of financial support for business start-ups and better product and process development. The North West Development Agency (NWDA) is piloting closer working with the Small Business Service and the Local Learning and Skills Councils to better address these issues. I recently announced an expansion of the successful Manufacturing Advisory Service in the region. This is an £18 million project supported by an initial investment of £5 million from the NWDA, and aims to deliver assistance to an additional 2,500 businesses in the region, and to achieve productivity increases of £50 million. In addition to benefiting from these initiatives, businesses in Lancashire have access to the services provided by the Lancashire West Partnership Productivity Centre, which helps companies, particularly Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, to achieve significant productivity improvements.