How much can one man do to revitalise a depressed area? In 1963 the Prime Minister Harold Macmillan , appointed Lord Hailsham to a new post - Minister for the North East. His job was to get the unemployment figures down, and at the same time, to try to give the people there more faith in themselves. Today the area is still depressed, and the idea has never been repeated.
Eric Robson asks Lord Hailsham, whether with hindsight, this was a sensible way for the government to tackle the problem.
Researcher ADAIRE OSBALDESTON Director PAUL LOOSLEY
Producer ALAN DOBSON. BBC Manchester