HIE board to be axed

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will lose its governing board, sparking fears crucial future decisions and investment plans over the Western Isles’ economic development will now be made in the central belt.

The boards of HIE - which is responsible for the economic development of the north of Scotland - and other development agencies will be swept away under a shake-up.

Concerns the Hebrides will come off worse have been expressed as the replacement Scotland-wide board is likely to be based outwith the region.

Changes will see HIE, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council to be run by a single board.

HIE board to be axed in favour of feared “government branch office” operation

24 November 2016

At Holyrood today, deputy first minister, John Swinney, indicated the government’s “intention is that, once established, this overarching board will replace individual agency boards.”

Each body would retain its “separate legal status” he added.

Shetland MSP, Tavish Scott said: "This is the end for bespoke economic development in the Highlands and Islands.

“HIE will become a branch office of the Scottish government. There will be no board to provide a Highlands and Islands focus - instead once again there will be top down centralised control from the central belt.”

Orkney MSP, Liam McArthur, said: "The abolition of the HIE board is further evidence of this government’s obsession with centralising control and decision-making.

“In the Highlands and Islands we know that economic development invariably requires different solutions to the central belt.

“Achieving those solutions has now been made harder by the decision to remove HIE’s board.

Labour’s rural economy spokesperson, Rhoda Grant, said: “I am outraged at this blatant centralisation.

“The loss of this board takes us back to early 1960 when Willie Ross said that no part of Scotland has been given a shabbier deal by history.

“Sadly the SNP Government appears to be rewriting history and offering an even shabbier deal."