NORTH-EAST Labour MPs last night made heartfelt pleas to the Government to give a boost to manufacturing industry in their region.

Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said manufacturers could see a growing North-South divide in their industry with high-tech sectors increasingly investing in the South.

In a short debate at Westminster Hall, he urged the Government to designate a Minister for Manufacturing, who could champion the industry and encourage entrepreneurs.

He argued that manufacturing would benefit from Britain joining the single currency "as soon as possible"