Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Retain the HIE Board

Donald Cameron S5M-03438 That the Parliament opposes the Scottish Government’s plans to abolish the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE); recognises the vital work that HIE carries out for businesses and communities across the Highlands and Islands, and calls on the Scottish Government to reverse this decision and ensure that the HIE board continues to take all strategic, operational and budgetary decisions. Keith Brown S5M-03438.2 As an amendment to motion S5M-03438 in the name of Donald Cameron (Retain the HIE Board), leave out from “opposes” to end and insert “recognises the vital work that Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) carries out for businesses and communities across the Highlands and Islands: welcomes the Scottish Government's commitment to retain HIE, its legal status, chief executive, management team, local base and local decision-making powers, and expects that the Governance Review being undertaken by the chair of HIE, Professor Lorne Crerar, and others will provide for the work of HIE to be supported by, and more closely aligned with, the other agencies within the Enterprise and Skills Review to drive the changes needed to further improve the economy of the Highlands and Islands and the rest of Scotland.” Rhoda Grant S5M-03438.1 As an amendment to motion S5M-03438 in the name of Donald Cameron (Retain the HIE Board), insert at end “, and recognises the impact that the Scottish Government’s plans for centralisation will have on HIE’s unique social remit.”