Local MSP Jackie Baillie has expressed her outrage that a scheme with a proven track record of getting thousands of graduates into work has been scrapped by Scottish Enterprise as a result of budget cuts.

The Graduates for Business scheme, which has been praised by the Federation of Small Businesses, was so successful that the idea has been adopted across the UK. The seven staff who operate it are now facing redundancy.

Jackie said, "Scottish Enterprise is completely wrong to scrap this scheme, which has a proven track record of getting graduates into work and helping small businesses fill vacancies. There are many graduates and local businesses in West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute that could benefit from this programme.

"In the current economic climate this is exactly the kind of initiative that should be extended, rather than being wound up. For the SNP Government to wash its hands of the decision and say it is an operational matter is disgraceful.

"The Finance Secretary John Swinney needs to face up to the fact that his decision to cut the enterprise budget by nearly £40 million is having a serious impact on young people and risks driving talent away from Scotland."