TRADE Secretary Stephen Byers will visit Lancaster University next Friday to see how £21 million of Government money will be spent.

The University has attracted the extra funding from a series of Government initiatives as the guest of Lancaster MP Hilton Dawson.

Mr Dawson says he hopes the new investment will encourage the growth of high-tech new businesses built on research at the University.

He said: "There is a huge job to be done here, not least in raising the profile of Lancaster as a regional and national centre of knowledge--based economy excellence and in ensuring that we are represented on bodies such as the new North-West science council."

Mr Dawson also hopes the city will benefit from university and St Martin's college students choosing to stay locally after graduation. He met with Students' Union representatives, the Employment Service, local colleges and the Chamber of Trade to discuss the issue last week.