HUME ECHOS OECD CALL FOR REGIONALISATION

12.00.00am GMT Thu 21st Feb 2008

Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland and Shadow Environment spokesperson has welcomed an OECD report calling for a less centralised approach to rural development and has urged the Scottish Government to act on a recommendation to raise the profile of the South of Scotland.

Jim Hume said:-

“I am pleased that the OECD has recognised the importance of regionalisation to rural development and delighted that the organisation has recommended that the Scottish Government aims at raising the profile of the South of Scotland.

“The SNP Government claims that this report is a vote of confidence in its actions so far. Yet up until now, the South of Scotland was well served by Scottish Enterprise Borders and Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway with local knowledge, support and investment. Now the SNP Government wants to strip that away, removing local decision-making power with a more centralised approach.

The MSP continued:-

“At the time the OECD recommends strengthening regionalisation, the SNP is weakening it.

“The SNP has spearheaded a policy that could stand in the way of the South of Scotland developing and diversifying, a key recommendation of this report.”