PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
FUTURE OF HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE AND THE PRESS AND JOURNAL KEEP HIE LOCAL CAMPAIGN (1 December 2016)

That this House notes that for more than half a century Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and its predecessor body the Highlands and Islands Development Board has delivered economic and community development across some of the most economically-fragile communities in the UK; further notes that in that time the overall population levels in the Highlands and Islands have increased by 20 per cent as many local businesses have been established and grown; believes that the need for a locally controlled body to deliver economic and community development across the Highlands and Islands is as great today as it has ever been; further believes that the Scottish Government's recently announced merger of the HIE Board with the boards of Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council is a threat to the future of this crucially important works which risks damaging the economy of the Highlands and Islands; congratulates the Press and Journal on its Keep HIE Local campaign; and calls on the Scottish Government to abandon this unnecessary and dangerous piece of centralisation.

Sponsored by:
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat)