Hinds bids for support cash

LEGISLATION should be used to ensure that the city council gives contracts to "supported businesses" like Blindcraft, according to opposition councillors.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, health spokeswoman for the Labour group on the city council, had successfully campaigned to save Craigmillar-based Blindcraft when it had faced closure last year.

She has now submitted a motion for a finance committee next week proposing that the council uses "article 19" of European Union procurement laws to reserve some public contracts for supported businesses. Her motion proposes that at least one supported business is selected.