Cashpoint; Scots MPs must stand and deliver.exclusive reporting Alastair Balfour NO tax hikes. A national strategy for manufacturing. Beefing up Scottish Enterprise Scottish Enterprise is the main national[1] economic development agency of Scotland, the other being Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) carries out similar functions of economic development in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. . New lifelong learning Lifelong learning is the concept that "It's never too soon or too late for learning", a philosophy that has taken root in a whole host of different organisations. Lifelong learning is attitudinal; that one can and should be open to new ideas, decisions, skills or behaviors. programmes. A better deal for small firms. Monitoring systems for entrepreneurs. Just a handful of the hundreds of suggestions on Scottish business's shopping list for the new Parliament. A torrent of proposals has poured out from lobby groups and companies, eager to catch the MSPs' attention once they arrive at Holyrood on July 1 with a country to run. Some are negative... don't raise taxes, leave business rates as they are. But many offer new initiatives to benefit the Scottish economy. The biggest package of proposals came from the Scottish Office's own Pathfinders initiative, launched by Business and Industry Minister Lord Macdonald. Thirteen business groups, representing the major sectors from tourism to textiles, reported on what needs to be done. The result is a 74-page document stuffed with ideas, many newly-minted, and many concerning social changes that would help business. The transport group, under Stagecoach stagecoach, heavy, closed vehicle on wheels, usually drawn by horses, formerly used to transport passengers and goods overland. Throughout the Middle Ages and until about the end of the 18th cent. chairman Brian Souter  Please see the article's Brian Souter , suggested road pricing on congested con·gest·ed adj. Affected with or characterized by congestion. congested ENT adjective Referring to a boggy blood-filled tissue. See Nasal congestion. routes around the major cities, with the proceeds going into a Scottish Transport Fund to underwrite investment in new roads' projects. The manufacturing group led by John Ward, chairman of Macfarlane MacFarlane or Macfarlane is a surname shared by:
While the drinks and hospitality group, under Allied Distillers chairman Andrew Dewar-Durie, proposes bringing Scotland's licensing laws into line with Europe. Two big common themes throughout the Pathfinder reports are improving education and skills training so companies have the talent they need, and generating an enterprise culture so more Scots think about creating wealth as employers rather than just seeking work. The Pathfinder exercise - a first in the UK - proved business can produce ideas on how our economy and society can be improved. It's up to the new Scottish Executive to show it can be equally radical in setting a new business agenda. What the party animals promise... LABOUR NO tax changes in the Parliament's first term. Scotland will not suffer from uncompetitive business rates, and we will re-invent local government A Business Growth Unit will aim for 100,000 new home-grown companies over 10 years. Export drive will produce 500 new Scottish exporters by the end of 2000. Transport policy will tackle congestion The condition of a network when there is not enough bandwidth to support the current traffic load. congestion - When the offered load of a data communication path exceeds the capacity. , pollution and social exclusion. pounds 90m will be invested in public transport and ways found of shifting freight from road to rail. Advice will be sought from independent experts, but decisions should be taken only by elected representatives SNP SNP Scottish National Party Noun 1. SNP - (genetics) genetic variation in a DNA sequence that occurs when a single nucleotide in a genome is altered; SNPs are usually considered to be point mutations that have been evolutionarily THE 23p basic tax rate will be frozen during the first term. We will invest the pounds 690million from not taking the penny bribe in health, education and housing We won't reorganise local authorities. Business rates will be banded by size of business, and annual rises won't exceed inflation. Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise The Scottish Government's economic development agency for the northern and western half of Scotland: The Highlands and Islands of Scotland has around 19,000 businesses, more than 440,000 individuals with skills and potential of their own - and more than 8,000 voluntary and to be stronger and take over tourism. We will invest in new roads and rail services via Public Service Trusts, and adopt Edinburgh's successful green bus lanes/park and ride policy. LIBERALS WE'D commission a report on funding local government, and introduce elections by PR for local authorities. Scottish Enterprise and HIE hie intr. & tr.v. hied, hie·ing or hy·ing , hies To go quickly; hasten. [Middle English hien, from Old English h should be made more accountable The Business Start-up Scheme must be expanded. Passenger Transport Executives would integrate policies for their areas to make greater use of rail. TORIES NO new or higher taxes. And no new transport tolls. Committed to retaining the Universal Business Rate across Scotland, at fair levels. We believe in a one-stop shop One-Stop Shop A company or a location that offers a multitude of services to a client or a customer. The idea is to provide convenient and efficient service and also to create the opportunity for the company to sell more products to clients and customers. approach to economic development, with the Local Enterprise Companies having responsibility for investment in business. We will be happy to contribute to all discussions aimed at adding value to the workings of the new Parliament. |
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