THE minister for the North West has urged Lancashire people to pull together and help tackle the financial crisis.

Beverley Hughes said ‘everything possible’ was being done by the Government to help families and businesses, protect jobs and homes, support companies and stimulate the economy.

And she believes the worst effects of the downturn can be avoided or mitigated by pulling together.

Of Lancashire, she said: “I hope the county can continue to build on the excellent progress it has made over the last 12 months in working collaboratively to address its key opportunities and challenges.”

She added: “As Minister for the North West it’s my job to do everything in my power to assist our region, be a voice for the region in Whitehall and make sure that central government knows what the public, the business community and third sector organisations in the North West need to get by.

“My message to individuals, families and businesses in Lancashire in 2009 is positive in that everything possible is being done both nationally and regionally to help individuals, families and businesses.

“But I recognise the economic downturn is having an impact now, on the lives of many people in Lancashire and we must all pull together to make sure that our people and our region are best placed to deal with its consequences and emerges stronger in the long term.”

She said she had set up a commission bringing together businesses and the public sector to discuss the way forward.

“The most recent meeting was extremely constructive and we agreed some key actions which are now being taken forward.

"I hope to be able to make further announcements about these measures early in this year,” she added.