Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, today tackled Enterprise Minister Jim Mather MSP during Question Time on the lack of action in bringing European funds into the South of Scotland to assist small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) who are struggling during the recession.

The MSP blamed Ministers’ inaction on petty bickering with the UK Government.

Jim Hume MSP said:

“With the new Scottish Enterprise focus now on larger growth sectors and business, there is a gap in support for SMEs and vital lifeline financial assistance could be provided through for example JEREMIE funding.

“This funding is already available in Wales and there is no good reason for the South of Scotland to miss out because the Scottish Government only has a one policy agenda of separatism and refuses to cooperate with UK Ministers.

“The Minister could not say what detailed actions are being taken to provide a mechanism to allow businesses in the South of Scotland to access JEREMIE; he could not say what discussions are ongoing with the European Commission or UK Ministers; and he could not say when or if the South of Scotland will ever benefit from these funds.

“Rather than simply writing a letter in December of last year to the Her Majesty’s Treasury ‘expressing disappointment’ that Scotland isn’t in receipt of this money, the Scottish Government needs to make serious representations and open up serious discussions with Westminster and the European Commission to allow the mechanism necessary that will help struggling small and medium businesses in the South Region.

“The status quo is unacceptable.”

Notes:

JEREMIE stands for “Joint European Resources for Small and Medium-sized enterprises” and is an initiative which was developed by the European Commission (EC) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), which is part of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, in the context of the EU Structural Funds allocation 2007-2013 for the EU Member States and regions.