Extreme disappointment at specific textile support from the Scottish Government (BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats)

BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats <info@banffandbuchanlibdems.org.uk>

Extreme disappointment at specific textile support from the Scottish Government

June 25, 2009 12:40 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Responding to a letter to the National Textile Forum from Enterprise Minister Jim Mather, in which he rejects any specific textile industry support in the recession, Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale MSP Jeremy Purvis has said that he is extremely disappointed that the Government's back has been turned on the sector at a time of crisis.

Commenting, Jeremy Purvis said:

"The sector has been buffeted by the changes in the global economy over the last decade and there has been gradual decline in the numbers employed, but over the last 9 months the sector has been hit especially hard. I met with the Enterprise Minister last month in an appeal with the textile sector and cashmere club for targeted sector support, a reversal of the cuts to the Scottish Enterprise Textiles sector body, and support that is being offered to competitors in Wales. It took 3 weeks for a reply to the letter following up the meeting with constructive and deliverable suggestions on practical support for the industry. The reply is regrettably a rejection of any need for additional support for the sector.

"The Scottish Government simply doesn't understand the reality of the pressure the textile sector is facing this year. Over a 1,000 jobs have been lost in the Borders, a great number in textiles; this is the equivalent of 20,000 job losses in urban Glasgow alone. I really am not sure what it will take for the Government to recognise that they must act now to save the industry."

Michael Moore, MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk added:

"Ministers do not seem to appreciate the impact that the loss of the textile industry would have on the Borders economy. The reluctance of the Government to provide firms with the financial support they need to survive will place thousands of additional jobs in jeopardy".