THE next Scotland Office must be “as open and accessible as the Scottish Government already is”, according to a leading business group.
Scottish Chambers of Commerce is calling for a “renewed role” for the Westminster department in generating new partnerships to increase economic growth. In a statement yesterday, its chief executive Liz Cameron said the snap General Election was a chance to refresh the office’s strategy.
Headed by Tory MP David Mundell since 2015, the department’s official remit is to “strengthen and sustain the union”, act as “Scotland’s voice in Whitehall” and “champion the UK Government in Scotland”.
However, Cameron said: “The Scotland Office must transform its perception and its operation in order to become a functional hub for UK Government services in Scotland, fully aligned and in tune with Scottish business needs.
“As part of this, the new Department for International Trade must formulate a new partnership with Scottish business that will help to encourage more of our businesses to export and which will harness the international connectivity of the UK Government.
With an emphasis on exports, she went on: “Whatever the composition of the new UK Government following next month’s elections, there will be a clear opportunity for it to deliver closer connections with Scotland’s businesses, to reinvent the nature of its activity in Scotland and to play a key role alongside the Scottish Government in working to build on the huge potential for success across Scottish business.”
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