IT is great to hear that Hitachi's plans for its Newton Aycliffe train factory includes a research and development department.

It is the same over at Nifco UK in Eaglescliffe which last week started work on its second factory build in as many years. The firm, which makes plastic car parts for pretty much every brand of car in the country, is investing in a development team in the hope that one day they design a new widget that makes them a fortune.

Such progressive thinking comes after Flymo maker Husqvarna announced it would close its R&D division at its Newton Aycliffe plant, with the loss of 40 skilled jobs.

Having vibrant production lines in our region is one thing, but if the North-East is to become the kind of innovation hot spot Lord Adonis envisaged in his recent blueprint for the North-East economy then we have to design as well as build products for the world.

VINCE Cable is making a habit of distancing himself from earlier outbursts.

After his recent backtrack over comments that the £5m earned by each member of boy band One Direction was an example of "grossly immoral" remuneration, the Business Secretary was again in revisionist mode this week.

Dr Cable was in the region on Monday to launch Export Week which aims to persuade small and medium-sized businesses in the North-East to join the export drive.

His tour took in visits to wax jacket makers J Barbour & Sons in South Shields, car chassis manufacturer Gestamp Tallent in Aycliffe and UK Steel Enterprises Innovation Centre in Redcar. He even found time to launch a new apprenticeship scheme for the region's chemical industry. Who says ministers don't earn their salaries?

Steven Hugill, the Echo's Deputy Business Editor caught up with Dr Cable at Sembcorp in Wilton, near Redcar.

He asked the Business Secretary to expand upon comments reported in the Echo on April 30 that Lord Heseltine's £70bn plan to devolve spending powers was a non starter. "We were never going to go down that road - and we won't be going down that road," Mr Cable said at the time, exposing the battle within Whitehall to cling on to departmental budgets. Asked on Monday what those comments meant to a bid by Tees Valley to take spending powers from central government, Dr Cable backtracked.

"I didnt say that at all," he told Steven. "That was another minister you must be confusing me with," he claimed.

No Vince, as One Direction sang: "Its Gotta Be You".

AS someone who deals every day with the PR industry I am well accustomed to having stodge sold to me as caviar.

We live in an age where even the most humble pub grub is described on menus as if it were being served up at The Ritz.

Regular correspondent Joan Grant drew my attention to a lovely example of foodie fluff.

Famous Newcastle department store Fenwick is advertising its new Tea Shed cafe which offers amongst other delights "homemade toast." It begs the question how does the chef keep it warm on the journey from his/her home kitchen to the Northumberland Street store?

Please send me your examples.