Blackpool North & Fleetwood MP, Joan Humble, today questioned John Hutton MP, the Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform about the role of his Department in regenerating Blackpool.

Mrs Humble said;

"I questioned the Secretary of State about the proposal from Hazel Blears MP, his colleague in charge of the Department for Communities and Local Government, to set up a cross-departmental working group to look into the needs of coastal towns. I urged him to get involved in this group because by helping Blackpool’s economy, he can help the whole region. I am pleased that Mr Hutton agreed that he would join with Hazel Blears and her Department to help regenerate coastal towns.

I have already spoken to Peter Hain, the Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions about benefits issues in Blackpool and to Hazel Blears about Blackpool's Task Force.

The next few weeks will be a key time for decisions on the Tramway, the future of Task Force proposals and now we also have the very welcome creation of a national working group to bring all Government Departments together to support seaside towns".