as an aside, I'm interested that many northeners (and others) seem to moan about a London Centric wealth distribution/economic powerhouse etc and yet seem to expect and want a top down London centric solution to the problemregional/northern civic economies. How about LAs in the north take a radical approach to attracting businesses ro invest in their regions rather than expecting the government to make the BBC or the Inlnd Revenue to relocate there. I think more imaginative and entreprenural regional governemnt approach is the way forward as some city and LAs have realised and been successfull at - Manchesters population and GDP per head is growing I belive for instytance. Leeds had success at an inner city retial rennisance in the 90s etc. Expecting London to dole out money is a bit passive.