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.'