THE lobby for support of Scottish craftsmen and women, left without

direct Government support since the disbandment of the Scottish

Development Agency's craft division, was rewarded with the announcement

yesterday of #300,000 of Scottish Office money.

Replying to a parliamentary question from Sir David Steel MP, Scottish

Secretary Ian Lang said that funding would be made available through the

Department of National Heritage to the Crafts Council and the Scottish

Arts Council.

The support would include funding craftmakers to equip themselves and

set themselves up as small businesses, and funding for training,

publicity, and exhibition facilities for their products on a UK basis.