New figures portray the South East as flourishing in export markets - even though the UK's trade in manufactured goods is showing a record deficit.
SEEDA, the development agency, does not mention the £59 billion manufacturing trade deficit for 2006 in its annual report covering 2006/07 on regional trade and investment. Instead SEEDA prefers to concentrate on the 500 plus companies which had help to start exporting and the experienced exporters who entered 950 new markets, but quite clearly not enough is being done by these public agencies to support and encourage the UK manufacturing base. In the House of Lordsthe debate continued with Lord Roberts of Conwy questioning the Government's commitment to manufacturing 'are the Government content to rely on the continuing success of the service sector, mainly financial services, and the City? Replying for the Government, Lord Davies of Oldam said the Government was not content with manufacturing performance, however he did not go on to say how the Government intended to rectify the situation. New cabinet positions have been created by the new Brown government, but the jury is out on whether these positions will make a difference without continual 'lobbying'.