I READ with dismay, on The Northern Echo’s business page that the North-East has a recorded seven per cent unemployment rate during the past three months – an increase of 11,000 people registered out of work.

This compares to a 4.8 per cent national average rate.

The report goes on to say that during the period between October-December 2016 the NE had 90,000 people out of work.

As I have stated previously, I am particularly concerned about the employment opportunities for the 18-24 years olds. What is the Government going to do about balancing employment opportunities in the North-East and the rest of the UK?

Can they re-direct jobs from the affluent South-East to the North-East.

Also can local councils stop building new houses on green field sites and concentrate on finding land which is ideal to house factory sites?

It was a huge mistake to allow the change from industrial land to housing development on the former Electrolux site in Spennymoor – a move that I strongly opposed as a member of Durham County Council.

Ben Ord, Spennymoor