HUME CALLS FOR REGIONAL DECISION MAKING TO BE PROTECTED

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 15th Oct 2007

Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland has expressed his serious concern over the dearth of regional decision making under the SNP Government’s restructured Scottish Enterprise network. The Scottish Government has announced plans to replace the existing Local Enterprise Companies with six regional operations across Scotland.

Jim Hume said:-

“As an ex board member of Scottish Enterprise, I am extremely concerned that the SNP Government’s restructured enterprise networks will result in the loss of regional decision making in Scotland.

“The SNP’s proposal is to have regional operations with 'advisory boards', but no delegated authority to determine where money is spent.

“It is vitally important that these regional operations are given the power to deal with local situations and choose where money would best be spent to suit local needs. There is also a risk that business-minded individuals will not be prepared to volunteer their time to sit on advisory boards with no little or no decision making authority.

The MSP continued:-

“I have asked the Scottish Government to confirm what delegated authority will be given to the regional operations under the restructuring of the enterprise network. Scottish Liberal Democrats want to ensure that regional decision making is preserved under the new system so that local people can make local spending decisions, rather than simply appealing to the centralised government for funds."