Murdo Fraser MSP has asked the SNP Government if public sector jobs can be relocated to Perth in the event of a large number of redundancies from OVO Energy.
The Scottish Conservative politician recently raised the matter at Holyrood with Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training, during a supplementary Portfolio question on Education and Skills.
Mr Fraser and Mid Scotland and Fife colleague, Liz Smith MSP, had met Adrian Letts, CEO of OVO Energy Retail, during a virtual meeting, when the pair both raised their concerns over the company stating they would be closing their Perth site in the final quarter of this year.
Around 700 staff work at the OVO premises in Perth.
Commenting, Mr Fraser said: “During our meeting, OVO stated that they will be offering some Perth employees the opportunity to work from home as they feel flexible working is the way ahead for the firm. OVO then announced that they are putting together a voluntary redundancy package for staff and that details will follow.
“With this uncertainty in mind, I asked the Minister for Higher Education if the SNP Government would look at relocating public sector jobs to Perth in the event of redundancies from OVO. The previous Scottish Executive delivered this policy to the benefit of other areas of the country.
“The OVO site in Perth will be lying empty towards the end of this year, so it would make sense for public sector workers to be relocated there, if possible.
“I was pleased to hear the Minister say it would be something the SNP Government would consider looking at as this is a very worrying time for Perth OVO staff.”
Mr Fraser continued: “OVO have pledged to support their staff by offering to re-skill them or help them adjust to flexible working, but it is useful to know if the SNP Government can help matters by relocating some public sector staff to Perth if there are large numbers of redundancies at OVO.”
