IN contrast to the struggle in manufacturing and, now, signs of slowdown in the services sector, the jobs boom in East Lancashire continues -- with another massive boost today.

But the announcement of 300 jobs being created with the launch of a new call centre for the Government's Pensions Agency is particularly and positively significant.

For though Simonstone is one of 20 sites chosen throughout Britain as regional centres for the new agency to handle queries about retirement pensions, for East Lancashire its selection brings and overdue and welcome departure -- that of an influx of Civil Service jobs.

Over decades, the concept of decentralising Civil Service duties and employment into the regions has been met with qualified progress. And, apart from the work provided by the usual government offices handling tax and social services, until now East Lancashire has benefited from little else of Whitehall's business.

But why such jobs are particularly necessary to areas like ours are that they add security to its overall economy as well as to individual incomes. This is because they are much more immune to cyclical forces in the economy and an area like East Lancashire which has still has a proportionately greater dependence on manufacturing industries that are often the first to feel the cold draughts of recession needs a diverse employment base to reduce its vulnerability.

It is for the same reason that an encouraging growth of white-collar jobs and and the development of a skills base for office and administrative work in East Lancashire are promised and led by the switch of services by Blackburn with Darwen Council to the business support services group, Capita.

For while all new jobs are welcome those that add diversity and stability to our region's labour market also promise a rise in wage and skills level, bringing extra strength and security to its spending power and defeating the disadvantage and deprivation that have for too long characterised the old industrial areas of Britain.