Survey takes business temperature

Slumberdown is one company to have cut jobs in the region in recent months

A business survey has been launched to assess the impact of the economic recession in the Scottish Borders.

Michael Moore MP said he hoped to get responses from 400 companies of different sizes across the region.

He said he had already spoken to a number of firms which had highlighted the problems they were facing.

Mr Moore said that once the results had been collated he would endeavour to help to tackle any of the issues raised by the region's businesses.

A number of job losses have been announced in the Scottish Borders in recent weeks.

Unemployment in the area in December 2008 had shown a 70% rise compared with figures for 12 months earlier.

Mr Moore, the Liberal Democrat MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, said he felt the time was right to assess how serious the situation was.

He said: "I will be analysing all the returns from my survey and will take up the key issues that arise.

"I believe it is essential that our local companies receive as much support as they need to see them through the downturn."

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