Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell MP has asked Central Ayrshire MP Brian Donohoe to help champion the 2012 Olympic Games, and in particular to ensure that businesses in his constituency don't lose out on their share of the six billion pounds worth of contracts that are available. o The Minister wrote to Mr Donohoe, expressing her concern that Scotland was the last of the Nations to launch the system by which local businesses can register their interest in available contracts.
As a result, Scottish businesses currently account for fewer than one thousand of the forty-two thousand businesses who have registered. o Rejecting criticism that the low take-up was because Scotland was only involved as an 'afterthought', she instead blamed the Scottish Executive for delaying eight months before joining the rest of the UK in promoting the available opportunities. 0
Mr Donohoe has pledged to do all he can to urge local businesses to compete for the outstanding contracts: 'In these difficult financial times it strikes me as crazy that any company that could do this work wouldn't be chomping at the bit to get stuck in', he said. "I am most disappointed that the Scottish Executive has put us at a disadvantage in this way. However, I would point out that there are seventy-five thousand businesses Games-related opportunities available altogether, and so far only forty-two thousand businesses have registered into the system. So although only one thousand of these are Scottish, there's still plenty of room for us to bid for the work. Surely it is a godsend at a time of increased unemployment. I know we have the skills and the infrastructure in Central Ayrshire to qualify, so let's get to it! o I would really urge the Scottish Executive to make up for lost time and to offer every assistance to those companies who could benefit from this opportunity." O Mr Donohoe addedo "Any company in my constituency is welcome to contact me if they want to be pointed in the right direction, or need more information on how to match their skills to the opportunities on offer."