The predecessor to Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the Highlands and Islands Development Board, was founded in response to a fragile economy and depopulation.
More than 50 years ago a Labour Secretary of State for Scotland understood what the SNP government in Edinburgh don’t today – that a ‘one size fits all’ approach was not the right way of solving these problems.
Since then the agencies have done a superb job in strengthening the Highlands and Islands economy and stabilising the depopulation. However, by the very nature of the area it serves, it’s job is never ending. Any proposed change to HIE must be carefully examined and agreed upon rather than imposed.
This reform by the Scottish Government totally goes against the founding principles of the agency. It re-establishes the ‘one-size fits all’ approach that failed to deliver in the past. It takes the strategic decision making away from HIE and will re-establish the direct government control, which I, along with many others, feel is the main purpose of this reform.
I have lived all my life in the area. I was brought up on the west coast and have seen, first hand, the effects on a community living with a fragile economy where the school leavers go away to university and never come back.
Whilst, Inverness and its surrounding areas, has grown speedily many of the rural and remote areas continue to contend with an ageing population, increased levels of poverty and a lack of job opportunities.
We have already seen the government abolish the community network of Local Enterprise Companies.
Now we are being asked accept that important decisions will be made even further away by people who do not understand the needs of the Highlands and Islands.
It is bad for the economy and social fabric of the Highlands and Islands and, ultimately, will be bad for Scotland.