§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the outcome of the discussions between his officials and the Highlands and Islands Development Board and the Scottish Development Agency initiated in 1984, with a view to working out practical measures of encouragement and support for rural retailers, following the report and recommendations submitted by the Scottish Consumer Council in July 1983 on consumer problems in rural areas; and what further steps he now proposes to take to ensure that some such scheme is introduced.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 13 January 1989]: Following consideration of the Scottish Consumer Council report by the Scottish Office, Scottish Development Agency and Highlands and Islands Development Board, the Scottish Development Agency introduced a scheme to assist single shops serving rural areas. This scheme offers specialist counselling services in conjunction with small local authority grants and operates in Tayside region, Dumfries and Galloway region and East Lothian district. Its extension to other areas is currently being considered. In addition to this scheme and its normal advisory services to small businesses, the agency is assisting two village projects (at Creetown and Newcastleton) aimed at attracting additional visitors. These projects, undertaken in partnership with local trade groups, involve shop front renovations and promotional activity.
The Highlands and Islands Development Board is also willing to give assistance in the form of grants and loans and advisory and training support to shops in remote rural areas, where these meet an important community need, and provides advisory services for retail businesses in its area.
The SDA, HIDB and SCC have recently commissioned consultants to investigate the changes in the provision of services in the parishes previously studied. It will be for the agency and the board to determine any action to be taken following completion of this study.