THE Government is to be urged to relocate Government departments to Teesside.

Ashok Kumar, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, is to see junior Cabinet Minister Douglas Alexander to press his case.

Sir Michael Lyons, one of the Tony Blair's key advisers is looking at a possible short-list of sites outside London and the South-East.

The Teesside Valley Development Company has already presented the Government with a fact file, highlighting advantages the area has to offer.

Dr Kumar is calling on the Cabinet Office to give serious attention to the case for relocating London-based civil service jobs to Teesside.

He said: "I think it imperative that Teesside is seriously looked at in this study. There is an overwhelming case to move these jobs, given the economic over heating of London and the South-East and I believe that Teesside offers an ideal location for these activities."

He added: "We have excellent links to all parts of the country via the A19 and A1, fast rail links to London and an international airport in the middle of our conurbation.

"In addition agencies like One NorthEast and Tees Valley Development Company are also spearheading the need for local investment in IT Broadband - a key requirement for twenty-first century business - and something that will facilitate the work of a devolved civil service."

The projected move of thousands of Whitehall jobs to the regions was foreshadowed in the last Budget. Dr Kumar said. "I think this is a great opportunity for our region.''

Meanwhile, Redcar MP Vera Baird has demanded to know why Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council will not benefit from £175m government funding to help alleviate deprivation.

Seven councils are to receive a share of the region's allocation of £22.5m from Neighbourhood Renewal Funding. Mrs Baird wants Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to explain why the Redcar area has been left out.