Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support job creation schemes in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside and (c) the North East.

Through the North East LEP Growth Deal we are supporting economic development with £379.6m of Local Growth Fund, including that for the International Advanced Manufacturing Park, partly in your constituency. The North East LEP estimates that their Growth Deal will lead to the creation of 8,000 jobs.

In addition to this we have agreed two City Deals. One for Newcastle with a £90m infrastructure programme, and one for Sunderland and South Tyneside worth £87.5m, which Sunderland City council predict will create 5,200 jobs.

Across England, Growth Hubs provide businesses with access to tailored local advice and support to help them grow. Within the North East this has provided nearly 1,200 businesses with coaching and support.

It is also worth noting that there are over 55,000 more people in employment in the North East LEP area than the equivalent period in 2010.