'SHOW THAT WE ARE READY FOR THE FUTURE'

10 OCTOBER 2001

Ask most people about the top issue for South Tyneside and they will say jobs. Rightly so, given high levels of unemployment. And the way our economy is changing can make the whole situation seem hopeless. Job growth in small firms can be invisible, while the bad news in the form of redundancies, like those at ViaSystems, dominate the headlines. Not many people would know for example, that there are over 1,000 more people in work in South Shields than in 1997.

It is clear that the receivership at ViaSystems is a huge challenge to all of us. I have been fighting with Stephen Hepburn to get redundancy pay in people's pockets, as well as justice from ViaSystems's parent company. But we also have to use the fact that we are now on the national stage - for the wrong reasons - to build a clear vision of our economic future, and then get support for it from the top.

At a meeting for all Labour Party members on Saturday, where we discussed everything fro international terrorism to Metro signs (why does "the coast" point people to Tynemouth and Whitley Bay and not South Shields?), we focused on how to drive the borough forward and raise employment. There were some good ideas. We need to gear up our public services. I was pleased to be able to report that the Employment Service has risen to the challenge posed by ViaSystems, with special sessions at the St Simon's project to help workers laid off with expert help on job openings. About 200 ex-ViaSystems workers have now put in job applications for vacancies.

People argued we needed to do more to back our existing businesses. I agree. I have visited businesses that have committed workers and good ideas for the future. But they need access to expert advice on investment, help with upgrading their premises and support in developing training opportunities. There was also recognition that we need to hitch ourselves to the growing parts of the region. But for us to get access to them we need the transport to get those jobs for ourselves. Transport is not just about leisure and tourism - it is vital to connect people to the economy.

In the end it is about people. Those at the meeting believed in South Tyneside, but they worried that we did not sell ourselves.
If we show we are ready to build for the future, we will get the backing we need.