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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| New south of Scotland enterprise agency to be created | New south of Scotland enterprise agency to be created |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A new enterprise agency is to be created to "meet the economic needs of communities" in the south of Scotland. | A new enterprise agency is to be created to "meet the economic needs of communities" in the south of Scotland. |
| The move is part of the final report from the Scottish government's enterprise and skills review containing a range of measures to help business. | The move is part of the final report from the Scottish government's enterprise and skills review containing a range of measures to help business. |
| Economy Secretary Keith Brown said it showed how to "transform the performance" of the economy. | Economy Secretary Keith Brown said it showed how to "transform the performance" of the economy. |
| He said it recognised the need for dedicated support to southern Scotland as already offered in the Highlands. | He said it recognised the need for dedicated support to southern Scotland as already offered in the Highlands. |
| Mr Brown launched the report while meeting Dumfries and Galloway business Kite Power Systems. | |
| The company has secured £7m of equity funding for its innovative approach to harnessing wind energy. | The company has secured £7m of equity funding for its innovative approach to harnessing wind energy. |
| He said the report contained measures to "enable more businesses to deliver strong, vibrant and inclusive growth at scale". | He said the report contained measures to "enable more businesses to deliver strong, vibrant and inclusive growth at scale". |
| "From better co-ordination of our international activity to ensuring young people are equipped with the skills they need to succeed, this review has delivered a package of reforms that will drive change across the country," he said. | "From better co-ordination of our international activity to ensuring young people are equipped with the skills they need to succeed, this review has delivered a package of reforms that will drive change across the country," he said. |
| "We have recognised the importance of providing dedicated support to the south of Scotland in the same way we currently do for the Highlands and Islands. | "We have recognised the importance of providing dedicated support to the south of Scotland in the same way we currently do for the Highlands and Islands. |
| "A new agency will be established to meet the distinctive economic needs of communities in the south of Scotland." | "A new agency will be established to meet the distinctive economic needs of communities in the south of Scotland." |
| He said they were also putting "greater urgency" behind plans for "joining up" the efforts of skills agencies to help learners and businesses. | |
| "Businesses will benefit from streamlined innovation support through a new digital access point, building on the recent success that has seen Scotland move into the top group of EU nations as regards innovation performance," he said. | "Businesses will benefit from streamlined innovation support through a new digital access point, building on the recent success that has seen Scotland move into the top group of EU nations as regards innovation performance," he said. |
| "The fundamentals of Scotland's economy are strong and - as this report confirms - we are doing all that we can to build upon these further." | "The fundamentals of Scotland's economy are strong and - as this report confirms - we are doing all that we can to build upon these further." |
| 'Dither and delay' | |
| However, south of Scotland MSP Colin Smyth criticised the three-year timescale for getting the new organisation fully set up. | |
| "A proposal was put to the government that would have seen a new agency up and running within months using the local councils under current laws," he said. | |
| "Clearly the government's obsession with centralisations means they want to control everything including this new agency. | |
| "The document they have published simply cuts and pastes the one the two councils produced in relation to the boundaries of the new body and what its aims should be. | |
| "But the Scottish government hasn't proposed anything itself other than dither and delay." |