CBI Scotland chief challenges Scottish Government to match UK recovery
CBI Scotland has told the Scottish Government to sharpen up its act to get the economy back on an even keel.
- By Graham Huband, business editor
- Published in the Courier : 30.12.11
- Published online : 30.12.11 @ 11.46am
Director Iain McMillan — whose organisation represents more than 26,500 businesses in Scotland — used his New Year message to challenge the Government to focus its ''entire energy'' on rebuilding an economy which is struggling to maintain limited headway.
He said: ''There is less public money to spend and what we are finding in Scotland, I think, is that the suppression of spend there is resulting in Scotland coming out of the economic downturn at a slower rate than the rest of the UK.''
Mr McMillan said a strong economic framework is vital if businesses are to prosper.
''The Scottish Government must create the conditions in which Scotland can move forward and direct its entire energy to rebuilding our economy,'' he said. ''In 2007, the Scottish Government pledged to raise the rate of Scotland's economic growth to the UK level by 2011. But this target is likely to be missed with Scotland's growth rate this year estimated at about half the UK level (UK 0.9%, Scotland 0.5%.) So sharpening its focus on the economy must be the Scottish Government's number one priority.
"CBI Scotland will continue its support for Scottish Government policies that will help to build our economy for the future, such as investment in skills, research, renewables, transport and other infrastructure. But we will oppose those policies that are not in Scotland's business interest, such as imposing higher rate bills on some sectors of our economy, and press for further action to speed up the planning system and reform devolved public services.''
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said the SNP had to do more with the tools available rather than complain about the powers it did not have.
He said: ''The year ahead must see concerted action from both our Governments to ensure Scotland's economy doesn't lag behind. This is best facilitated by the Scottish Government using the powers at its disposal and not whingeing about the powers it doesn't.''
Finance secretary John Swinney said the recovery is fragile but insisted the Government is doing everything possible to boost the economy.
Despite the gloom, he said a number of key sectors — financial services, energy, hospitality, the creative industries, tourism, life sciences and the research base within Scotland's universities — have continued to perform.
He said: ''The Scottish Government and its agencies have worked tirelessly to secure new investment, jobs and opportunities to Scotland to accelerate economic growth in the face of global challenges.''
01.00am - 31.12.2011 John Mc - Dundee, Scotland Report This
But the SNP has 20,00 members, and, we are told, activists working 24 hours to plot Scotland's future - what else does the CBIS want - jobs? A carefully co-ordinated economic recovery plan called Plan MacC? C'mon let's be realistic here. This is the SNP we are talking about. :-)
02.42am - 31.12.2011 Louisa - Tayside, Scotland Report This
"more than 26,500" is hard to believe when I and many others have been reliably informed that allegedly the CBI only represent around 90 Scottish businesses - and this includes some universities and quangos. It would be interesting to see your reference material to clarify your "26,500" claim.
09.20pm - 31.12.2011 Callum - Fife, Scotland Report This
Is this the quangos that Mr Salmond said would be part of a huge bonfire? How much are th bonuses to these guys? Th problem with SNP supporters is that in having a pop at others, they forget the complicity and Incompetence at Mr Salmond's door.
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