Issued: 23 August 2001
Angus Delegation Urge Action
First Minister Henry McLeish was urged to take action to support the fragile Angus economy at a top level meeting in Edinburgh today.
A delegation led by Andrew Welsh MSP and Mike Weir MP, with representatives from Glaxo Smith Kline, Angus Council and Scottish Enterprise Tayside, met Henry McLeish to discuss the economic situation facing the Angus burghs particularly in the context of recent announcements relating to Glaxo and Esk Foods.
Jack Gibb, Angus Council’s Economic Development Convener, said: "The delegation highlighted the increasing seriousness of the jobs position in the Arbroath, Montrose and Brechin areas, and stressed the urgency of the need for action and the vulnerability of the Angus economy.
"We once again urged the First Minister to set up a task force under the chairmanship of the Scottish Executive to address the position before it become an economic catastrophe for Angus.
"The First Minister acknowledged the present difficulties for the whole agricultural economy arising from the situation at Esk Foods and stated that the Scottish Executive were closely monitoring the position.
"Mr McLeish pledged all possible assistance and stated that, with the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, he would look again at the issue of setting up a task force and promised a meeting of officials within two weeks with a view to assisting him in a decision.
"While representatives from Glaxo were positive about the current search for a buyer for the Montrose plant, members of the delegation stressed their concern about the high, and escalating unemployment in the area, and urged the First Minister to take action as soon as possible."