David Mundell MP has pledged to help beleaguered businesses in Moray in their attempts to secure commercial loans from banks.

04 March 2011

David Mundell MP has pledged to help beleaguered businesses in Moray in their attempts to secure commercial loans from banks.

Members of the Moray Task Force met with the Under Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell MP, in Elgin Thursday Mar 3 to press home the case for retaining the RAF in Moray.

Mr Mundell spent an hour hearing of the problems being suffered within the Moray economy by the closure of RAF Kinloss and the continued uncertainty over RAF Lossiemouth's future.

The Moray Task Force has come together to address the impact on Moray of the UK Government's Strategic Defence and Security Review, published in October 2010. Made up of private business, the public sector and community groups, the task force is campaigning to keep the Tornadoes at RAF Lossiemouth and to support the businesses and communities affected by the cancellation of the Nimrod contract at RAF Kinloss.

The minister heard from Task Force member, Lesley Ann-Parker of the Moray Chamber of Commerce, that scores of local businesses were struggling to secure borrowing from their banks amid doubt over the area's economic future.

Speaking after the meeting, Lesley Ann Parker said: "He listened to what we had to say and seemed to take it on board.

"He promised to make representations to the banking industry on our behalf over borrowing problems experienced by local businesses.

"Many profitable local businesses are being refused borrowing because of the doubt that the banks have expressed over the Moray economy.

"This has created problems for many of our members, and has affected expansion and employment in some cases."

The minister also promised to do all he could to ensure an early announcement was made over RAF Lossiemouth.

Calum McPherson, area manager of HIE Moray, said "Any good news, no matter how small, would be welcome at this time. Every week of uncertainty causes more damage to the local economy," he said.

"Mr Mundell has guaranteed to make Liam Fox and Nick Harvey fully aware of the need for an early announcement on Lossiemouth, for which we are grateful.