Creating jobs is central to building more competitive economy
Scottish Secretary comments on latest Bank of Scotland report on jobs.
Being part of the UK with its security, scale and influence is benefiting Scottish businesses, Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said today.
Commenting on the latest publication of the Bank of Scotland’s report on jobs, he said:
Creating jobs and getting people into employment is central to the UK Government’s plan to build a stronger, more competitive economy. Today’s Bank of Scotland report on jobs showing a rise in the number of people in permanent jobs together with increases in job vacancies and starting salaries reflects the fact that this plan is working.
Many risks remain, but thanks to the difficult decisions we have taken the recovery has real momentum emphasised by the fact that the Bank of England revised up its forecast for GDP growth in 2014 from 2.8 to 3.4 per cent in its latest inflation report outstripping all of our major European rivals.
As this report shows being part of the UK with its security, scale and influence is benefiting Scottish businesses and creating long term sustainable jobs. Through measures such as the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme which has provided more than £110m of loans to Scottish companies in the past three years we will continue to do everything we can to help our businesses to excel and grow both at home and abroad.