Chamber and committees

This was discussed with the industry, but was seen as less important than other priorities, such as the industry's image, attracting young people into the industry and training issues.

To date, two champions helped us at the launch of the Scottish Textiles Forum last year, and two have attended textile promotion functions at Dover House. Several of them have achieved positive press coverage about textiles.

The Manufacturing Image Group identified that one way to ensure that manufacturing has a bright future in our economy is to encourage our young people to become involved. In view of this they recommended that a campaign targeted at S2 pupils was the way to show how diverse and interesting manufacturing is today. The campaign, Make it in Scotland was successfully piloted in East Ayrshire last year and has been extended to the whole of Ayrshire, Glasgow and Angus this year.

It is not the department's practice to provide details of all grant applications received. However, details of all Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) offers involving grant of over £75,000 are published in the Office of National Statistics' quarterly Labour Market Trends after the first payment of grant has been made. This publication is held in the Parliament's Reference Centre.Since 1 July 1999 the Scottish Executive has made 14 offers under the RSA and Invest for Growth schemes to companies in the textile sector. The assistance offered amounted to £4,706,400 and was in respect of projects planned to safeguard 719 and create 81 jobs. Of the 14 offers referred to above, two companies, Stoddard International Plc and Peter Greig & Co Ltd, have received offers of RSA for amounts over £75,000 and have also been paid the first instalment of grant. Details of their grant offers have therefore been published.

Behind the Label is a programme to allow young people to get a better understanding of the textile sector. This has been operating successfully in the Borders for the last two years. Textile companies are also part of this year's Make it in Scotland extended pilot in Ayrshire, Glasgow and Angus which promotes manufacturing to S2 pupils.

The full forum last met in January 2001. Since then the subcommittees have met at least three times each. The next meeting of the full forum is planned for 4 March 2002 at Cardonald College, Glasgow.

Each of the four sub-groups (weaving, apparel, knitting & technical textiles) have met three times and discussed various issues, including training, recruitment, the industry image, branding and the setting up of initiatives to tackle these issues.

There is no separate monitoring or ring-fencing of expenditure by the various supporting agencies on a company basis.

The 90-day consultation period has not yet expired, but much progress has already been made. The local PACE team have already put in place a number of initiatives, including:Open days at the factory staffed by representatives of the Employment Service, Benefits Agency, Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire Council Economic Development and Money Matters Advice team;Presentations to the workforce by the PACE partnership;Jobshop on-site at DAKS staffed by the Employment Service and Benefits Agency staff and including full access to the ES computerised vacancy system; andMini employer / training events on site.

A pilot of the Make it in Scotland project to raise the image of manufacturing amongst S2 pupils was carried out in East Ayrshire last year. The experience gained last year has allowed the project to be extended this year to the whole of Ayrshire, Glasgow and Angus. Scottish textile companies are actively involved in this.