The Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee decided at today’s meeting that its first inquiry will be into the co-ordination and performance of economic development, workplace training and company support services in Scotland.

Announcing the inquiry, Convener John Swinney said:

"During the summer recess we took the opportunity to meet with a wide range of organisations with a key involvement in the business and lifelong learning sectors.

"After listening to an invaluable cross-section of views, we were left with the task of identifying the committee’s priorities. Given the breadth of our remit, this was no easy task.

"However, the Committee agreed that the co-ordination and performance of the wide and diverse range of economic development services in Scotland should be its first area of inquiry.

"This is a huge area, but it is one that the Committee was keen to undertake given that it spans both enterprise and lifelong learning. It will for example, include consideration of the provision of employee training in the workplace and through the further education colleges, the effectiveness of local economic development services, and the support available to businesses in Scotland.

"Our first step will be to begin an in depth consultation process involving all the main agencies and other bodies who have experience in this area. We shall also be looking to call expert witnesses to give evidence before the committee as the perspective of the users of these services will be paramount to our inquiry.

"We aim to report in Spring 2000, however it is our intention to announce our interim conclusions throughout the inquiry."

The full remit of the Committee’s inquiry will be issued shortly, along with details of where to make representations.

As the general public will have an interest in this inquiry, the Committee is keen to encourage the participation of private individuals.

BACKGROUND NOTES

The committee’s membership is as follows:

Convener: John Swinney (SNP). Fergus Ewing (SNP), Annabel Goldie (Con), Nick Johnston (Con), Marilyn Livingstone (Lab), George Lyon (LD), Margo MacDonald (SNP), Duncan McNeil (Lab), Elaine Murray (Lab), Elaine Thomson (Lab), Allan Wilson (Lab).