Redcar MP Vera Baird has contacted Chancellor Gordon Brown to demand Government jobs are moved north - preferably to Redcar.

Mrs Baird argued that one or more agencies could be moved from London to the North-East to kick-start the economy.

Her request for information was answered by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Paul Boateng, who referred to extra money for the Regional Development Agency in the North-East.

Mrs Baird said: "That is all good money, but our economy needs a massive boost and that can only be done by a major influx of good jobs.

"This can be achieved by opening more government offices on Teesside and relieving the congestion of the South-East."

She said that unemployment in the North-East was twice the national average and GDP per head was about £10,000 compared with £13,000 nationally. Investment in research and development was half the national level and business start-ups were the lowest in the country.

Mrs Baird said: "Don't we need to kick-start our growth by reinvigorating some historic regional development policies by relocating one or more government agencies into this lovely region? They would be very welcome in Redcar."