POLITICIANS from all parties must subject all of the Bills put forward this week by Alex Salmond’s SNP government to strict scrutiny to make sure they have a positive effect on the economy, according to business lobby group CBI Scotland.
The First Minister will outline the Scottish Government’s legislative agenda tomorrow when MSPs return to the Scottish Parliament following their summer holidays.
Iain McMillan, CBI Scotland’s director, warned: “The past 12 months have been tough for business and for the economy. As we face the coming year, our political leaders need to channel their collective energies into aiding the recovery and ensuring the delivery of policies that help. All MSPs have a role to play.
“If we are to see a meaningful resumption of growth take root then there are key issues that must be addressed within the legislative and governing agenda over the coming months. Important reforms and investment in infrastructure, business support, procurement, and regulation need to be advanced.”
His comments come just a week after CBI Scotland unveiled the steps it would like to see Finance Secretary John Swinney take to stimulate economic growth, including increased infrastructure spending.
Meanwhile, business confidence among British companies rose for the third month in a row during August, according to a survey published today by Lloyds Bank.
But the lender warned that the rise came from historic lows and that the economy is still fragile.