The Scottish Government will do “everything that needs to be done” to support redundant Tullis Russell staff, the First Minister has pledged.
However, Nicola Sturgeon admitted finding a new buyer for the beleaguered paper-maker would not be easy as she visited Glenrothes on Monday as part of a whirlwind tour of Fife,
More than 300 jobs were lost when the company went into administration last week.
A joint taskforce has already been established by the Scottish Government and Fife Council, backed with £6 million of Scottish Government funds.
“The focus will be to see if we can find a buyer for Tullis Russell, although we don’t underestimate the challenges there,” Ms Sturgeon said.
“We need to make sure we do everything possible to help those affected by redundancy into alternative employment. The £6m is intended to support economic development and regeneration in Fife, starting in this particular part of Fife.
“The Government is committed to working with the council to do everything that needs to be done.”
Speaking later in Dumfries, Ms Sturgeon said the next Government must reflect the whole of the UK if it is to be considered legitimate and cannot “ignore” Scottish voices.
She said if Labour leader Ed Miliband “is wrong-headed enough to reject an anti-Tory alliance and let David Cameron back into power”, a strong block of SNP MPs would work “to protect Scotland from the damage of a Tory Government in a way that Labour never has”.
The First Minister has repeatedly said if there is an “anti-Tory majority” in the Commons her party would team up with Labour to prevent Mr Cameron winning a second term, even if his Conservatives win the most seats.
She dismissed suggestions the largest party needs to form the Government to make it legitimate.
Ms Sturgeon said while “Westminster is supposed to be the Parliament and the Government for the whole of the UK”, it often “hasn’t felt that way for Scotland as we have had to put up with Tory Governments that we have rejected”.
She added: “So, surely a test of legitimacy that should be applied to whatever Westminster Government is formed after this election cannot simply be that it is the largest party in England.
“The test that must be applied is whether a Government can build a majority and win support that reflects the whole of the UK.”