§ Mr. Corrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether a decision has been taken on the future of the "Locate in Scotland" offices in New York and San Francisco.
§ Mr. YoungerIn my response to the report of the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs last year, I stated my intention to review, with the chairman of the Scottish Development Agency, the offices in overseas locations originally established by the agency, but now under the direction of "Locate in Scotland", on the completion of their initial two-year period. The review has now been completed and we have concluded that the LIS offices in New York and San Francisco were doing a thoroughly worthwhile job, complementary to the work of the Diplomatic Service posts, in bringing United States investment to Scotland and constituted an essential element in the success of LIS in co-ordinating the inward invesment activities of the authorities in Scotland engaged in this field. We have decided therefore that they should continue, on the basis that their work will be fully coordinated with the United Kingdom promotional effort undertaken through the Diplomatic Service posts in the United States of America.