Thurso gives cautious welcome to enterprise zone status for Nigg and Scrabster
January 18, 2012 3:57 PM
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP John Thurso today cautiously welcomed the designation of Scrabster Harbour and Nigg Yard as Scottish enterprise zones focused on renewable energy.
On Tuesday the Scottish Government in Edinburgh announced the creation of four enterprise areas over fourteen sites across Scotland. The Renewable Energy Enterprise East Area will include both Nigg and Scrabster in the Highlands although not Wick Harbour. No details on how the enterprise areas will operate is yet known although they may include reduced business rates and it is hoped they will be operating from April.
Last year the UK Government announced the creation of twenty two enterprise zones across England and Wales and additional funding of around £17 million over the next four years is available in Scotland.
John Thurso said:
"Since the Coalition Government created enterprise zones in the last budget I have been urging the Scottish Government to use the extra money given to Scotland to create enterprise zones in Scotland. I therefore welcome this belated initiative by the Finance Secretary."
"However there is no detail in this announcement, no indication of funding levels and no indication of what being in an enterprise zone is meant to achieve. It is therefore difficult to know whether or not to give it a real cheer until the Scottish Government makes clear precisely what it is proposing to do."
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