Re Northern Rock as mentioned earlier:
Would that be the bank that paid back 57% of its bailout money already and on track to clear its liabilities by end of '09 as the city and other banks around the UK take a plunge?
It pays not to make generalise sweeping statements like the original poster of that remark as it's simply inaccurate.
Incidentally according the the ONS the North East's quarterly change was less than most areas.
Might be worth just keeping it on the original thread per chance. It's bad enough crap rumours relating to aviation without adding economics to the mix wouldn't you say?