SENIOR MPs are to meet business and university leaders in the region to help shape a report into the Government’s industrial strategy.

Members of the House of Commons Select Committee scrutinising industrial policy are to visit County Durham on Thursday.

The Parliamentary committee will take evidence from groups including Atom Bank, Ebac, Hitachi Rail Europe and the North East England Chamber of Commerce, during a hearing at St Aidan’s College, in Durham.

They will also visit two Durham University development projects at NetPark, near Sedgefield.

The Centre for Advanced Instrumentation creates high-tech instruments for major telescopes around the world, and the Advanced Inorganic Materials Group which grows large diameter crystals to develop high energy, colour X-ray imaging technology.

Professor Antony Long, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, said: “As a University, we play a lead role in supporting the development of innovative industries through our partnerships with businesses and through our commercial spin out activities.

“We hope that we can help the Select Committee build a full picture of the role of the region and the university sector in the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

“It is important for us to ensure the region is represented in policy debates and development across the board and that policies are based on solid evidence, which is where our researchers play a crucial part.”

Durham County Council leader Councillor Simon Henig, said: “This visit shows that Durham is a beacon for business and in particular high-tech research.

“NetPark is one of our premier development sites and is recognised internationally for science and technology companies in the UK.

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee is considering how much the Government should intervene in the free market, whether it should focus on certain sectors and how an industrial strategy relates to devolution.

Members of the committee, chaired by Hartlepool MP Iain Wright, will meet with representatives from the University and see some of Durham University’s innovative research in action.

Mr Wright said: “The region led the world in the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century and has an opportunity to benefit from the new Industrial Revolution in the 21st century - that means the North-East should have a major say in what a proper industrial strategy looks like to benefit the region's economy, its businesses and its employees.”