THE decision of Lite-On, based at Mossend, to shed 250 jobs after just one year was a disaster waiting to happen. It is the inevitable result of ill-conceived plans and policies by Government and development agencies.
After all the cosying up to Taiwanese firms and promise of a ''great new hope'' for Lanarkshire, yet another commitment by Locate in Scotland together with all the other agencies involved has failed. We are once more seeing the error of courting foreign investment rather than supporting our indigenous industries.
Companies such as Lite-On and, before this, Svedala in Wishaw last year, are attracted to Scotland with too much carrot-dangling. We cannot blame these firms for enthusiastically responding to our open-chequebook approach.
If we are stupid enough to woo these companies with an extravagant dowry, why shouldn't they accept? When the marriage then leads to divorce, these companies get to keep the spoils! Then we throw our hands in the air in disbelief at what has happened.
There needs to be an urgent and radical rethink concerning development agency role and policy. Home-grown industries should be targeted for assistance before all else. East? West? Home's definitely best!
Alan Patterson,
Chairman, Wishaw Business Group,
51 Wishaw High Road,
Cleland.
May 14.
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