ANGER OVER LACK OF GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO MILL CLOSURE

11.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 27th Jul 2008

North East Fife MSP Iain Smith has expressed "disappointment and anger" at the lack of a response from the Scottish Government to the closure of the Guardbridge Paper Mill, with the loss of 260 jobs.

Speaking on Sunday, Mr Smith said he had yet to receive a response from Cabinet Secretary John Swinney to two requests for an urgent meeting to discuss with the Government how it could assist.

"I am disappointed and angry at what appears to be a lack of interest by the Minister and the SNP Government to this devastating blow to the local economy and the families affected by this closure. John Swinney appears to be more interested in the interests of the SNP in one job in Glasgow East and than he is in 260 jobs in Guardbridge."

Iain Smith said that he and local MP Sir Menzies Campbell would be meeting the Administrators KPMG early in the week to discuss the prospects for salvaging the Mill and any of the jobs. "It would obviously be useful to know before we meet KPMG if the SNP Government is willing to lift a finger to help," Iain Smith said.