Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP Alasdair Allan has welcomed the announcement that Highlands and Islands Enterprise is to retain its own board.

The announcement was made in a ministerial statement to the Scottish Parliament on the Enterprise and Skills Review by Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown MSP, earlier today.

Alasdair Allan MSP commented:

“I, and my Highlands and Islands SNP colleagues, have met with Keith Brown several times on this subject and raised a number of concerns about this issue. I am pleased to see the Cabinet Secretary has taken onboard those concerns and responded so positively.

“There was never any doubt about HIE’s future as an organisation, or that it would continue to be locally-based, managed and directed. However, I did appreciate the worries people had about the board, and I hope that the commitment given today will allay those concerns.

“HIE performs incredibly valuable work in the Western Isles in helping to create and sustain jobs, and these new arrangements should protect and enhance the unique service they provide to us.”