Local Business Growth Fund proposals backed by Dundee Liberal Democrats (Dundee Liberal Democrats)

Dundee Liberal Democrats <info@dundeelibdems.org.uk>

Local Business Growth Fund proposals backed by Dundee Liberal Democrats

March 14, 2007 2:36 PM

Local Business Growth Fund proposals backed by Claire Matthew

Dundee LibDems today (Wednesday 14th March) welcomed Scottish Liberal Democrat plans for a Local Business Growth Fund as "an extremely sensible way to sustain economic growth in Scotland."

Scottish LibDem Leader Nicol Stephen MSP spelt out how the scheme will offer councils major incentives to support economic growth. Councils that encourage their local economies to grow will be allowed to keep more business rates revenue to reinvest in their local communities under the new plans.

Nicol Stephen said, "If I am elected First Minister I will introduce a Local Business Growth Fund in Scotland to give local authorities an incentive to grow the local enterprise.

"When a local authority raises extra money by encouraging business to locate or start locally, a Scottish Liberal Democrat government will allow them to keep 50% of that. This should encourage a real pro enterprise attitude in our local councils. The local council will have complete freedom to decide how to spend these extra funds."

Locally, here in Dundee, Liberal Democrat spokesperson Claire Matthew said, "This is an imaginative scheme to help build businesses in Scotland and encourage local incentive to do so."