This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Meeting over relocation policy
18/09/2003
All areas of Scotland, including Dumfries and Galloway and the South of Scotland, were today urged to take a proactive approach in trying to attract new public sector jobs to their area.
Deputy Finance and Public Services Minister Tavish Scott, after a meeting with Dumfries MSP Elaine Murray, said all relocation decisions would be taken on a case by case basis.
He continued:
"It was a very useful meeting and it enabled me to set out the Executive's main relocation policy criteria of openness, fairness and transparency.
"Decisions on relocating public sector jobs out of Edinburgh will continue to be taken on an objective basis but I would encourage all areas of Scotland, including Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders, to make sure their voice is heard. It is vital that the various partners work together to raise awareness of the benefits of their areas.
"The South of Scotland has a lot to offer by way of quality of life and overall lifestyle that is available to the people living and working in the area.
"The First Minister announced the Small Units Initiative on October 28, 2002, designed to identify small units of work which could successfully be carried out in more rural and remote areas of Scotland and I was encouraged to learn that Dumfries and Galloway has set up a small dedicated relocation unit aimed at promoting the area and I look forward to receiving detailed proposals from this unit in due course.
"The Executive is committed to the dispersal of public sector jobs to ensure that all areas of Scotland benefits from the advantages of devolution. "
The Executive's relocation policy covers over 30,000 public sector jobs in Scotland of which two thirds are already outwith Edinburgh. The policy does not cover civil servants in Scotland employed by UK Departments.
Around 1,250 posts have been or are planned to be relocated outwith Edinburgh as a direct result of this policy. A further 1,950 posts are covered by planned relocation reviews.
As an extension to the policy the First Minister announced that the Executive would undertake a review across all the organisations covered by the relocation policy including the core Executive, to identify small units of work which could be successfully carried out in more remote areas where opportunities to promote economic activity can be harder to find.
This review is now taking place and so far 80 jobs have been identified as candidates for relocation.