The legislation to establish the new South of Scotland Enterprise Agency will start the process towards becoming law this week when the bill goes before the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) for scrutiny.

The Stage 1 process will run until early next year and is likely to include the Committee holding a formal Parliamentary Committee meeting in Dumfries on 14 January and a workshop in Galashiels on 23 January.

South Scotland MSP and member of the Committee Colin Smyth is urging people across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders to have their say on plans for the new agency.

Colin Smyth said, “This is an important piece of legislation for the future of the South of Scotland. As the only South Scotland MSP who sits on the Parliamentary committee who will scrutinise and amend the Bill, I would urge local people to take part in the committee’s consultation to ensure that the new Agency is shaped by the people it will affect most. It is vital that the agency is very much rooted in the South of Scotland has the local membership, budget and powers needed to deliver the real change our local economy needs”.

The Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) Committee are carrying out a consultation on the bill, which runs until 7 January

The consultation questions that will form part of the inquiry are:

Do you agree that a south of Scotland enterprise agency should be created?

Do you agree with the proposals for the body’s constitution, purposes, powers and duties?

If you do not agree with the proposals, what would you like to change?

Is there anything else that should be included or excluded from the bill?