Letter: Building block

WITH the SNP having achieved a historic majority of MSPs elected to the Scottish Parliament, Alex Salmond should seize the opportunity to strengthen his ministerial team this week and appoint a dedicated minister for construction.

The Scottish construction sector directly employs 8 per cent of Scotland's working population and contributes more than 10 per cent of Scotland's total economic output annually.

As minister for enterprise, energy and tourism, Jim Mather, who stood down from parliament at the May elections, was as close as our industry came to a dedicated minister during the past four years. With so many more SNP MSPs now elected to parliament, Mr Salmond has an ideal opportunity to divide Mr Mather's former portfolio and to appoint Scotland's first dedicated construction minister.

We are confident that individual would champion the interests of the industry and ensure policy was properly co-ordinated.

Michael Levack

Chief executive

Scottish Building Federation

Edinburgh

Ken Morrison

Chair, Chartered Institute of Building Scotland

Auchterarder, Perthshire