BUSINESS leaders in the region have given a mixed reaction to Government legislation announced in this week's Queen's speech.

The Government's final agenda ahead of a likely Spring General Election was bereft of policy for business, said the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC).

The NECC said a series of proposed policies targeting crime and terrorism addressed growing fears about safety, but did little to protect the economy from the threat of house price collapse, rising oil prices and a failing US dollar.

George Cowcher, NECC chief executive, said: "The Government must not lose sight of the fact that a buoyant economy is the quickest way to put a smile on the face of the electorate.

"While we applaud a raft of measures aimed at making people feel safer, we are concerned that more is not being done to make people more financially secure."

However, measures to tackle crime were welcomed by the Institute of Directors (IoD).

The IoD said 66 per cent of its members were victims of crime last year and, therefore, business would welcome those measures that help to address the problem.

Miles Templeman, director general of the IoD, said: "Crime is a major blight for small businesses and we applaud the Government's determination to tackle the problem. Business should have the right to trade without the fear and disruption that crime brings."