Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) chief executive Sandy Cumming has welcomed today's announcement that the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is to be relocated to Inverness.

"Modern communications, from transport links to broadband technology, are making it possible to run globally successful businesses from rural locations such as the Highlands and Islands.

"The same forces mean that it is no longer necessary for government departments and agencies to be clustered in the central belt.

"There is a compelling logic in the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage being located in its rural heartland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise welcomes the Minister's decision.

"HIE will work with SNH in any way we can to help make the transition an easy one and look forward to establishing even closer links with the organisation's staff once the move is complete."