A STATISTICAL insight into the changing face of the North-East has been provided by a report.

The State of the Region study is the first publication to come from the new North-East Regional Information Partnership.

It has examined areas fundamental to the region's economic, social and environment performance.

It warns that the region has too many poorly-qualified people in low-skilled jobs and has the worst average health in England.

The report also says that just 5.1 per cent of the North-East's waste is recycled, compared to 12.4 per cent nationally.

But it highlights positive aspects, such as unemployment falling from 9.1 per cent in spring 2000 to 6.7 per cent this year.

The proportion of businesses with Internet access is also continuing to grow and is the highest in the UK.

Alan Clarke, One NorthEast chief executive, said: "This new report gives the North-East an important, credible data source on which it can make informed decisions about is future.

"Whilst it confirms there are some deep-seated problems in our region, firm action is being taken by organisations such as One NorthEast to tackle many of these issues."

The North-East's increased focus on the culture of the region is also borne out by an increase of 1,000 people employed in the sector between 1998 and 2001.

Tourism is said to have recovered well from the foot-and-mouth outbreak, with the sector worth £900m a year to the regional economy.