Title

BUSINESS

Local authority business provision 'lacks transparency' - MSPs

Scottish MSPs have criticised a local authority scheme that aims to help businesses grow for lacking ‘transparency, accountability and alignment’.

Scottish MSPs have criticised a local authority scheme that aims to help businesses grow for lacking ‘transparency, accountability and alignment'.

Business Gateway was handed over by the Scottish Government to local authority control in 2008.

The Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee today said it was concerned about the lack of accountability for the remit and performance of Business Gateway.

It also argued it was ‘unacceptable' that there was limited transparency around budgets and performance.

Committee convenor Gordon Lindhurst said: ‘There is a lack of alignment, transparency and accountability in Business Gateway, and we found it unacceptable that local authorities do not consistently record and publish targets or financial information.'

BUSINESS

Rachel Reeves: The Queen of fiscal drag

By Mike Emmerich | 28 November 2025

The chancellor may have done respectably on putting the public finances on a more secure long-term footing, but her measures do little to stem Britain’s post...

BUSINESS

Counting care costs

By Ann McGauran | 27 November 2025

Councils continue to face steep rises in the cost of care in both children and adult services. As social care chiefs gather this week for the National Childr...

BUSINESS

Policing reform shouldn't be piecemeal

By Sir Bob Neill | 26 November 2025

The abolition of police and crime commissioners is a start, but no substitute for the scale of reform required, writes Sir Bob Neill.

BUSINESS

Fair funding review labelled a 'sham'

By Martin Ford | 20 November 2025

The fair funding review has been labelled a ‘sham’ by rural councils following its publication today.

Popular articles by William Eichler