NORTH-EAST MP Iain Wright has landed a plum job watching over Government policies towards business – and immediately vowed to make Europe his first priority.

The Hartlepool MP triumphed in a head-to-head battle with a rival from the region to be elected chairman of the Commons business, innovation and skills select committee.

The role involves running the rule over the Government’s record on everything from apprenticeships, universities, help for industry, devolution and overseas trade to consumer rights, workers’ skills and executive pay.

The leader of a select committee can be thrust into the spotlight with a media profile outstripping many Government ministers

As well as that platform, leading a committee also brings a hefty salary bump – of £14,728 - in recognition of the extra duties involved.

A delighted Mr Wright - a former chartered accountant, who spent four years as Labour’s industry spokesman - described his success as an “honour”.

However, it meant disappointment for Roberta Blackman-Woods, the Durham City MP, who also stood for the job, in a ballot of all MPs.

Similarly, Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman lost out in the race to head the powerful public accounts committee, which has made its name probing corporate tax-dodging.

But Gateshead MP Ian Mearns got the nod to lead the backbench business committee, which decides which petitions put forward by the public are debated.

Mr Wright said he wanted to “champion Britain’s businesses, students and consumers”, as well as using the business committee to scrutinise Government’s policies.”

But he added: “I believe the first inquiry in this Parliament should be to look at the costs and benefits to business of Britain’s membership of the EU.”

The issue is set to dominate the Parliament, with David Cameron committed to holding an ‘in-out’ referendum by the end of 2017 – and already at odds with many Tory backbenchers.

Most North-East Labour MPs are arguing strongly for Britain to remain within the EU, after both Hitachi and Nissan warned they could curb investment if there is a ‘no’ vote.

Mr Wright said his other priorities were:

* Tackling Britain’s plunging productivity, which is “holding back Britain’s competitiveness and workers’ living standards”.

* Skills – amid fears that young people are not gaining the “qualifications that business need”.

* Scale-up – arguing small firms required more help to grow.

* Employment rights

Meanwhile, Labour MP Frank Field – elected to chair the work and pensions committee – vowed to prioritise the problem of benefit sanctions triggering the surge in visits to food banks.

Some of the most memorable moments of the last parliament were provided by select committees – including Rupert Murdoch's appearance over phone hacking and ex-RBS chief Fred Goodwin's apology for his role in the bank's collapse.