The Confederation of British Industry’s northern region chairman, Hugh Morgan Williams, called for an urgent reappraisal of efforts to regenerate north east England’s economy. This followed Siemens’ and Fujitsu’s recent plant closure announcements.
He said in a letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair that too much emphasis had been put on inward investment and not enough on fostering indigenous innovation and growth.
He wrote that there was a need to re-examine the emphasis placed on the region in strategic planning. He wants the immediate creation of a think-tank, comprising the private sector, local authorities and unions which he said the prime minister should chair.
Financial Times 16/09/98 page 10
