§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his action to promote inward investment to Scotland; and if he must seek the approval of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry before making any offer to a potential investor. [66135]
§ Mr. Dewar[holding answer 18 January 1999]: Locate in Scotland promotes Scotland's advantages as a business location, working in partnership with the Local Enterprise Companies, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other bodies in both the public and private sectors. Its resources are targeted on those markets which generate the strongest flows of outward investment and where Scotland's competitive strengths make it an attractive location.
Offers of assistance are subject to inter-Departmentally agreed rules designed to ensure appropriate co-ordination of assistance offered across the UK. These rules are 494W currently being revised to reflect the devolution settlements and the revised arrangements will be set out in a concordat on financial assistance to industry, which we hope to publish in due course.