JOHN Swinney has responded to a Scottish ice cream's brand move to Yorkshire amid the business facing criticism.
We told on Tuesday how Cream o’ Galloway, founded in 1994, will move to a manufacturing site outside Masham in Yorkshire after being bought by Brymor a year ago.
A statement on the website said this would allow the business to “benefit from newer, more efficient equipment”.
The founder of Keep Scotland the Brand, Ruth Watson, raised concerns about the move, saying that moving south rather than investing in Scotland, but keeping the Scottish brand regardless, is "the height of cynicism".
Now, South Scotland MSP Emma Harper has raised the issue in Holyrood, asking the First Minister on Thursday if he shared her concerns about the move and whether the Scottish Government will support any job losses.
She said: "There is a huge let down for the local people, and it will be of considerable concern to my constituents.
"Can he provide an assurance that the Scottish Government Paces [Partnership Action for Continuing Employment] will support anyone who has a job lost?"
The First Minister said the Scottish Government would "engage" with Cream o' Galloway to find a way of any potential continuation of production in Scotland.
Swinney replied: "I do regret this decision and obviously the Government will use its agencies to support any individual that's affected.
"We will also engage with the company to see if there is any way in which we can ensure the continuation of production within the Dumfries and Galloway area, given the importance of the authenticity of source of production of important products in this time."
The company has said it will continue to distribute the Cream o' Galloway range from "Ashland’s, Twynholm, outside Castle Douglas, so that we can service our valued customers and Scotland, Northumberland and Cumbria".
