HOME secretary Jack Straw got a briefing from business leaders. The Blackburn MP met a delegation from East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce to discuss its work and the concerns of members.

"We wanted to bring him up-to-date with what the Chamber and its members had been involved in," said Kathryn Czaja, commercial director.

"He was particularly interested in the utilities co-operative that we have recently launched in the area."

The initiative was set up to negotiate bulk discounts for members on services.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.