Salmond quizzed over SE's £400k corporate branding

THE First Minister faced questions yesterday over government agency Scottish Enterprise's plans to spend £400,000 on corporate branding.

Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott queried the decision to fork out taxpayers' cash on "golf balls, stress shapes, hip flasks and mousemats".

He called on Alex Salmond to cancel a tender that is seeking a supplier to provide and distribute corporate-branded gifts around the world. He said: "Is this really the best time for Scottish Enterprise to advertise this contract to spend 400,000 on corporate-branded gifts, 400,000 of taxpayers' money on golf balls, stress shapes, hip flasks and mousemats?"

He highlighted a recent report that judged the SNP government's budget planning as "patchy and lacking in urgency and leadership".

Mr Salmond hit back, insisting that Scottish Enterprise was doing "an excellent job".