To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies have received the assistance of the North East Productivity Alliance’s Best Practice Team (NEPA); in what (a) locations, (b) industries and (c) fields the companies assisted by NEPA were based; what assessment he has made of NEPA’s effectiveness; and if he will make a statement. (104226)

The North East Productivity Alliance’s “Dissemination of Best Manufacturing Practice” project has helped 286 General Manufacturing companies in the region since its inception in 2003; of which:

35 were based in Tees Valley

92 in County Durham

40 in Northumberland, and

119 in Tyne and Wear

Companies cover all manufacturing sectors in the region, including: Automotive, Aerospace, Food and Drink, Electronics, Plastics, Textiles, Shipbuilding and repair, Oil and gas, Pharmaceuticals, Construction, Marine, Rail, White Goods, Process industries, Printing, Furniture and General Engineering. The project has been evaluated in a number of ways during this time: including through the National Audit Office’s assessment of the performance of One NorthEast, and in studies by Tribal HCH (March 2005), KPMG (March 2005 and ERS (March 2006).