date: Mon 6 August 2001 embargo: immediate release

Attention: industrial, economic correspondents

TUC calls for manufacturing aid

Responding to figures showing an official recession in the manufacturing sector, Brendan Barber, TUC Deputy General Secretary, said:

"Last week's interest rate cut was a welcome move but there is far more we could be doing to help our manufacturing sector. Britain gives less state aid to manufacturing than almost any other country in Europe. The TUC wants to see at an extra £1bn for regional industrial development because the problems of the sector are disproportionately spread across the country."

Notes to Editors:

All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries: Richard Darlington on 020 7467 1337 or 07654 589 780 (pager), email rdarlington@tuc.org.uk, or duty press office 020 7467 1248

Press release (200 words) issued 6 Aug 2001