Scottish Budget: John Swinney pledge to aid ailing construction sector

By SCOTT MACNAB
Published on 11/09/2012 02:31

Finance secretary John Swinney has pledged to pump fresh cash into the ailing construction sector in an effort to kickstart growth when he sets out his Budget next week.

• Finance Secretary aiming to breath life into economy

• Action comes as Scots economy follows UK into double dip recession

Scotland recently followed the UK into a double dip recession and the cabinet secretary says his spending plans for 2012-13 will be focused on reviving the flat economy.

The move coincides with the publication of a report on the Government Economic Strategy (GES) which sets out action to assist capital investment and address youth unemployment.

Mr Swinney said: “As I prepare our Budget for growth, I am actively exploring what more this Government can do to boost jobs and growth in the construction industry.”

The Government announced a £105 million package of economic stimulus in June and has already set out four new Enterprise Areas to encourage growth.

Scottish Building Federation chief executive Michael Levack said 50,000 construction related jobs had gone since 2007, adding: “Ministers should be in no doubt about the severity of the situation Scottish construction firms face.”

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