Salmond to unveil new economy plan

Published on Tuesday 19 August 2008 10:42

FIRST Minister Alex Salmond will tonight outline new measures to address challenges faced by the Scottish economy.

He is due to detail the initiatives when he delivers the Donald Dewar lecture at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in Charlotte Square Gardens.

The speech is likely to cover housing issues and the wider economy.

Opposition MSPs attempted to pre-empt the speech by calling on the SNP leader to tackle job losses in the construction industry and shortages of affordable housing.

Tavish Scott, leadership candidate of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said Mr Salmond was "dithering" while house builders faced increased strain. And Labour said housing associations were being denied adequate funds to address shortages.

Earlier today, Mr Salmond took his Cabinet colleagues on the road again with the latest of a series of meetings around Scotland. The Cabinet was due to meet at the Atholl Palace hotel in Pitlochry ahead of a question and answer session in Pitlochry Town Hall.