To ask the Scottish Executive what actions have been taken by Locate in Scotland to promote Prestwick Airport as a location for aircraft maintenance facilities.

Locate in Scotland was an active member of the Prestwick Task Force, and has continued to work closely with the Ayrshire Location Service on the matter. Extensive marketing was carried out in Locate in Scotland’s main overseas markets promoting Scotland’s, and in particular Prestwick’s potential as a location of MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) aerospace activities. In addition, Locate in Scotland together with Ayrshire Location Service participated in the MRO Europe Exhibition and Conference in Limerick earlier in September to raise the profile of Scotland and Prestwick in particular.

Locate in Scotland has also worked closely with existing aerospace employers at Prestwick to facilitate expansion of existing operations. Currently Locate in Scotland and the Ayrshire Location Service are pursuing some specific project opportunities, but it would not be appropriate to comment on these at this stage.