IN the build-up to the General Election, David Cameron emphasised the need to rebalance the North-East economy due to its over-reliance on the public sector.

Since Mr Cameron became Prime Minister, this region has been particularly hard hit by public sector cuts which, in our view, have been too deep and too rushed.

But while we have criticised the allout attack on the public sector and the dismantling of the regional development agencies, it is also fair to give the Coalition credit for now targeting investment in private sector jobs in the most deserving areas, such as the North-East.

Fourteen schemes in our region have been named as successful bidders for the Government’s flagship growth fund, with the North-East securing £57m from a national pot of £450m.

Whether that investment does create and safeguard 13,000 jobs – as the Government claims – remains to be seen.

But with only one bid from the South- East being approved, the Coalition can justifiably argue that it is at least doing something to address the North-South divide.

We are not overlooking the fact that this investment does not match the support the region enjoyed through the regional development agencies.

But with the Regional Growth Fund allocation coming on top of last month’s go-ahead for the Hitachi trainbuilding factory at Newton Aycliffe, we acknowledge that the North-East is at least being given a fair crack of the whip where the private sector is concerned.