§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to assist councils, universities, colleges and development and training agencies in the North East of Scotland to invest in employment creation in order to offset the future decline in the North Sea oil and gas industry. [61541]
§ Mr. DewarEconomic development assistance to the area is channelled through Grampian Enterprise and the local authorities. Grampian Enterprise and the local councils have been working with the further and higher education institutions in the area to promote the diversification of the local economy to counteract job losses in the oil and gas industry.