What action it is taking to increase business start-ups in areas where the rate of business start-ups is below the Scottish average.

Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise provide business support for new and existing businesses in Scotland. Both announced performance figures for start-ups assisted during the last financial year above the targets originally set. At a local level, specific actions to improve start-up rates are an operational matter for the enterprise networks. As outlined in the Partnership Agreement, steps are in hand to further improve support measures through the introduction of a new business start up fund.