IT makes little sense to have civil service jobs concentrated in London and the South-East.

There are few positive benefits to compete with the negative aspects of transport problems, congestion, property prices and the cost of living.

Nevertheless, it is both unreasonable and unfeasible to uproot existing government departments in and around the capital, and transplant them in the regions.

What the Lyons Report affirmed, however, is that in the modern world there are no practical reasons why newly created civil service jobs can't be in regions such as the North-East.

The report's recommendation that ministers should presume against choosing London and the South-East for new civil service activities is sensible.

There can be no justification in the future for public sector investments of this kind to go to London and the Home Counties.

It will be difficult for a Government which is preaching the principles of decentralisation and devolution not to adopt the findings of the report.

Equally, it will be difficult for a Government which concedes the existence of a North-South Divide to overlook opportunities to close the divide.

The onus on our region is to put together a compelling case for new civil service jobs to come here.

To do so the region must put on a united front, spelling out the many advantages we have over other parts of the country.

But we must also put pressure on the Government to reconsider the ludicrous restrictions on possible locations, which prevents the jobs coming to many of our urban areas most in need of employment and investment opportunities.