Brown creates national economic council

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown established a National Economic Council on Friday to coordinate economic policies across government and help people cope with the fallout from the financial crisis.

"Britain is facing a period of immense economic challenges," Brown's office said in a statement. "The National Economic Council will work to help people and businesses to deal with the current economic uncertainties."

The council, chaired by Brown with finance minister Alistair Darling as his deputy, will meet often and take advice from experts on issues ranging from financial markets, global commodity prices, sustainable energy and barriers to business.

The government also established a regional economic council and appointed a network of British business leaders to support the government overseas.

The so-called business ambassadors include the chairmen of Lloyds TSB, Barclays, Vodafone, Standard Chartered, the London Stock Exchange, Rio Tinto and J Sainsbury