PROTECTION for thousands of Fylde aerospace jobs is flying high on politicians' priorities.

Fylde MP Michael Jack met the Consortium of Lancashire Aerospace Companies recently to pledge his backing, not just to the giant British Aerospace, but to smaller support companies.

"Behind BAe is a whole raft of smaller and medium-sized companies which are often forgotten," he said. "I'm doing all I can to encourage the expansion of the skills base to help these companies.

The training body Lawtec recently issued a profile of the area's economy which failed to mention the aerospace industry as far as I could see. We need to address the problem of the skills deficit through training."

Meanwhile, the Fylde's Euro-MP Mark Hendrick, who formed lobby-group ADRIANE - Aerospace and Defence Regional Initiative and Network in Europe - emphasised the importance of North West aero-jobs in a keynote speech to the UK Defence Forum.

"I was influential in securing funding to help companies such as BAe adapt to the changing demands of the international defence market," he said.

"At meetings with senior Cabinet Ministers I received assurances on the future of the aerospace industry in the North West and particularly on the Eurofighter, which is partly built in my constituency at BAe Warton."

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