SCOTLAND'S enterprise network will be ordered by Donald Dewar today to slim down and tighten up their organisations, targeting their efforts on job creation measures in unemployment black-spots, writes Robbie Dinwoodie.
The Secretary of State's staff were last night playing down any comparison with the riot act that has been read to local authorities this week over the performance of their direct labour organisations, but Mr Dewar does want to concentrate the minds of Scottish Enterprise and the 13 local enterprise companies.
At a gathering attended by the board members of SE and senior representatives of all the Lecs in Falkirk today, Mr Dewar will demand a new approach. He will tell them at a time of public austerity and in the midst of the comprehensive spending review it is no longer appropriate for enterprise companies to hold on to vast tracts of land.
Typically, they own enough land to provide for around 20 years of future industrial development, huge holdings which are also held against the possibility of attracting one of the major inward investment coups. Mr Dewar will tell them to sell much of this off, keeping back only strategic parcels sufficient for around five years.
A spokesman for Scottish Enterprise said last night: ''This is entirely consistent with SE's advice to the Scottish Secretary. We welcome his encouragement and support for our strategy development.''
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