Press Release

18^th January 2000

"Business in the Chamber" - Inverclyde Business Community has its say in Parliament.

The Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee of the Scottish Parliament is offering the chance to more than 100 representatives from the Scottish business community to have their say in Parliament on February 18 and help shape future economic development policies in Scotland.

As local MSP, Duncan McNeil, sits on the Enterprise Committee, 5 of these representatives will be from companies in the Inverclyde area.

Outlining the latest stage of the committee’s innovative inquiry into local business support services, Mr McNeil said:

"During the first phase of our inquiry, we spoke to all the main business organisations with an involvement in delivering economic support services to small and medium sized firms. And to be honest, we came to some pretty hard-hitting conclusions about the role that they play.

"Based on the early evidence we received, business development in Scotland is being hampered by confusion, overlap and duplication’ from those very agencies charged with promoting business growth.

"To test whether our conclusions are an accurate reflection of the work done by local enterprise companies, local authorities and enterprise trusts, we want to invite along to Parliament businessmen and women to check that our findings are borne out by first-hand experience of using these public sector services.

"In addition to those early findings, our report also sets out a number of radical options for changing the current system. We are offering the same individuals the chance to scrutinise our work and tell us where we’ve got it right, where we haven’t and put forward their own ideas.

"From the outset, we have been anxious to look beyond the ‘usual suspects’ in this inquiry. There are a lot of people out there with something to offer and this is their chance to get involved and play a part in shaping future economic policy."

Each committee member has nominated a range of business representatives, from their local area, to participate in a debate on interim conclusions of the inquiry. The half-day debate, which will be held on February 18, will take place inside the Parliament’s main chamber. The businessmen and women will take up the seats normally occupied by their MSPs.

EXTRA PLACES UP FOR GRABS

In addition to those representatives already invited, up to 60 further places are available for other individuals to participate in the debate. Ideally, applicants will have first-hand experience of using economic development services, or come from a related background, which might include commerce or academia. If demand exceeds supply, the lucky 60 will be drawn from a ballot.

ENDS

Notes

1. The business representatives will be asked to debate a number of the main conclusions from the committee’s interim report, published in December. These include:

• that there needs to be more coherence in the delivery of services, and rationalisation may be necessary

• that an Economic Development Strategy for Scotland needs to be developed

• that a Lifelong Learning Strategy, which draws together the myriad of current initiatives and schemes, is also required

• that there is too much inconsistency in the delivery of services by the Local Enterprise Companies.

2. Bids to attend should be sent either by e-mail to: enterprise.inquiry@scottish.parliament.uk, or by surface mail to: The Clerk to the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, Committee Chamber, Scottish Parliament, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH99 1SP

Applications should arrive by February 1 at the latest. Those wishing to attend as representatives must explain who they are and why they wish to attend. Travel expenses will be available for representatives, if requested.

3. The meeting will last from 10.00 –13.00 on February 18, and will be chaired by Alf Young, Deputy Editor of the Herald, who will act as an adviser to the Committee.

4. The event will be the first of a number of initiatives sponsored by the parliament under its ‘Parliament in Partnership with the People’ scheme (see news release on website dated October 29). The scheme aims to bring the Parliament closer to the people it represents, and give an opportunity for all elements of Scottish society to contribute to its work.

The committee’s interim report was published on December 15 (see news release on Scottish Parliament website for details).

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