GOVERNMENT task forces set up after the collapse of major employers run the risk of raising expectations and are often powerless in the face of global circumstances, it has been claimed.

The Scottish Government has set up a task force "to seek a viable alternative to the potential mothballing of Tata Steel operations in Scotland".

It will include representatives of various agencies, local authorities, trade unions, the steel industry and will be chaired by business minister Fergus Ewing.

But since the collapse of the Motorola plant in Bathgate in 2001 with the lose of 3000 jobs protocols are well established.

Under the banner 'Partnership Action for Continuing Employment' (PACE), Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, councils, training providers and further education colleges intervene.

Workers facing redundancy are given details on what training and employment opportunities are available, what transferable skills they may have and many are directed into new jobs.

Sources involved in a number of high-profile task forces in recent years though have said the accepted reaction of various administrations at Holyrood can create a "big tent" where what is actually delivered is very limited.

With many business, such as Longannet and indeed Dalzell and Clydebridge, at the mercy of global economics and sometimes manipulated markets, the Scottish Government has little leverage for meaningful intervention.

Other instances such as the collapse of Johnny Walker in Kilmarnock or Halls of Broxburn have, amongst some members of the workforce, created the belief the industries could be nationalised.

One source said: "Task forces are the right thing to do. You can't be too negative about them. But there is an important issue around managing expectations and establishing it at a very early stage gives an impression more can be done than will actually be delivered.

"Every case is different but there is little Scottish ministers can do about the collapse in oil or gas prices and an intervention could leave the public with a major liability.

"It's fair to ask hard questions about what this latest or any recent task forces achieve. We already have PACE, which does its job. You would never not get involved in one but what's delivered is very limited."

The Scottish Steel Task Force plan involves "continuing the work that has already started to evaluate the business and identify potential efficiency savings, training support and market opportunities", as well as providing support and advice for those employed at the sites, and assessing "the economic infrastructure of the local area, to identify whether any improvements can be made to support economic development".