MOORE PRESSES PM ON SUPPORT FOR BORDERS ECONOMY

12.00.00am GMT Mon 25th Jan 2010

'There is an urgent need for businesses and the unemployed around the Borders to receive additional financial assistance from the Government': this was the message sent to the Prime Minister by local MP Michael Moore as he presented a petition signed by hundreds of people from across the south of Scotland at 10 Downing Street last week.

Mr Moore launched his economy petition in late 2009 after a year in which a number of local companies had experienced difficulties due to the financial crisis and recession. Official statistics have revealed that the number of people in the Borders claiming Job Seekers Allowance increased by over 50% between November 2008 and 2009.

In recent weeks, the situation facing a number of local manufacturing firms has not been helped by figures showing that Scottish manufactured exports have dropped by 19% over the last year

Mr Moore has called repeatedly for Ministers to recognise the severity of the situation facing many families and businesses in the Borders as a result of the economic downturn. Last week, he wrote to the Scottish Secretary and challenged him to hold a jobs summit in the south of Scotland after a similar event was held in Glasgow.

Commenting, Mr Moore said:

'Although some analysts have suggested that the UK is beginning to move out of recession, the latest statistics indicate clearly that many businesses in the Borders are still facing an uncertain economic future. While this is perhaps most evident across our manufacturing industry, the fact is that there is no part of our local economy that has not been damaged by the downturn.

'Under these circumstances, it is essential that firms in the Borders are offered all the support they need to protect jobs and secure their long-term survival. It is also vital that those who have found themselves unemployed through no fault of their own are able to access skills and other training to help them back into the workforce.

'The strength of the response to my petition will provide the Prime Minister with a clear indication of just how angry people are at the damage that his economic policies have done to the Borders.'