Chamber and committees

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.

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.

SPT have welcomed the Executive's decisions to increase capital allocations by 43% for the three years to 31 March 2004, to support through grant and borrowing consent the £23 million Larkhall to Milngavie rail projects and to provide £14 million from the 4th round of the Public Transport Fund to buy new, and refurbish existing, rolling stock. The Chair of the Authority and officials of the Executive have expressed concerns about the level of funding following re-organisation of local government in 1996. As to a response, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20916 on 18 February 2002.

Security and safety are reserved matters. It is not our policy to disclose details of security measures.

This is an issue for South Lanarkshire Council in partnership with Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire. However, the Executive is providing funding of £16 million to deliver the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link, which includes a new station in Larkhall.

The amount announced by Stephen Byers and Margaret Hodge on 6 June 2000 was £15 million. This announcement also covered the initial 12-point action plan for the UK textiles and clothing industry. The action plan was issued in response to recommendations made by the Textile and Clothing Strategy Group in their document A National Strategy for Textiles and Clothing.I understand that the UK Government has invested in capital investment, export support, technical development, research, skills development and training for the textile and clothing sector. However, a separate figure for expenditure in Scotland is not available, as it is not ring-fenced separately.

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.

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.

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.

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.