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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Sturgeon unveils £100m Scottish economic stimulus plan | Sturgeon unveils £100m Scottish economic stimulus plan |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Nicola Sturgeon has announced £100m of funding to boost Scotland's economy and support businesses in the wake of the UK's vote to leave the EU. | |
| The Scottish government is to bring forward support for job-creating projects and arrangements to help businesses deal with uncertainty. | The Scottish government is to bring forward support for job-creating projects and arrangements to help businesses deal with uncertainty. |
| Ms Sturgeon also called for the UK government to help boost the economy. | Ms Sturgeon also called for the UK government to help boost the economy. |
| Scottish Secretary David Mundell is holding talks with business leaders and youth groups about Brexit. | |
| Mr Mundell is holding meetings with representatives from key groups and sectors, such as farming and oil and gas, about the impact of the EU vote which took place in June. | |
| Ms Sturgeon has just returned from Germany, where she held talks about Scotland's place in Europe with the German Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth. | Ms Sturgeon has just returned from Germany, where she held talks about Scotland's place in Europe with the German Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth. |
| During a visit to the Golden Jubilee hospital in Clydebank, she announced an expansion of the government's existing infrastructure investment plan, along with new arrangements to engage with businesses to shape policy and provide up-to-date information and advice. | During a visit to the Golden Jubilee hospital in Clydebank, she announced an expansion of the government's existing infrastructure investment plan, along with new arrangements to engage with businesses to shape policy and provide up-to-date information and advice. |
| An extra £100m will be made available in the current financial year to speed up delivery of health and other infrastructure projects which are currently in the pipeline, including £5m for the Golden Jubilee. | |
| The funding added to the 2016/17 year comes from an underspend from previous budgets. | |
| The Scottish government said details of other projects to benefit from funds will be announced in due course. Work is ongoing to select projects which will return a significant economic benefit and can be delivered this year. | The Scottish government said details of other projects to benefit from funds will be announced in due course. Work is ongoing to select projects which will return a significant economic benefit and can be delivered this year. |
| A new dedicated service to liaise with firms affected by the EU referendum is to be set up, alongside a new business network to work alongside the Scotland Office, trade unions and business bodies. | A new dedicated service to liaise with firms affected by the EU referendum is to be set up, alongside a new business network to work alongside the Scotland Office, trade unions and business bodies. |
| 'Act urgently' | 'Act urgently' |
| Ms Sturgeon said: "As I have made clear since the EU referendum, the Scottish government will pursue all possible options to protect Scotland's relationship with the EU and ensure that our voice is heard. | Ms Sturgeon said: "As I have made clear since the EU referendum, the Scottish government will pursue all possible options to protect Scotland's relationship with the EU and ensure that our voice is heard. |
| "However, it is also important to act now to support and stimulate the economy. | "However, it is also important to act now to support and stimulate the economy. |
| "Scotland is and remains an attractive and stable place to do business - however, there is no doubt that the referendum outcome has created deep and widespread uncertainty, with the impact on jobs and investment already being felt. | "Scotland is and remains an attractive and stable place to do business - however, there is no doubt that the referendum outcome has created deep and widespread uncertainty, with the impact on jobs and investment already being felt. |
| "The UK government has not yet taken any meaningful action to alleviate uncertainty or to boost confidence, and there are very real concerns that the damage to the economy and to jobs will be severe and long lasting. | "The UK government has not yet taken any meaningful action to alleviate uncertainty or to boost confidence, and there are very real concerns that the damage to the economy and to jobs will be severe and long lasting. |
| "It is against this background that the Scottish government is announcing early action to boost confidence, stimulate economic activity and support business." | "It is against this background that the Scottish government is announcing early action to boost confidence, stimulate economic activity and support business." |
| The funding boost was welcomed by business groups and trade unions. | The funding boost was welcomed by business groups and trade unions. |
| Liz Cameron, chief executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said the investment was "a timely boost" and "a great example of the Scottish government using devolved powers to deliver a timely boost to the Scottish economy". | Liz Cameron, chief executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said the investment was "a timely boost" and "a great example of the Scottish government using devolved powers to deliver a timely boost to the Scottish economy". |
| Andy Willox from the Federation of Small Businesses welcomed the plans to engage with businesses in particular, and said it was important to "squeeze every drop of value" from the new spending. | Andy Willox from the Federation of Small Businesses welcomed the plans to engage with businesses in particular, and said it was important to "squeeze every drop of value" from the new spending. |
| 'Technical recession' | 'Technical recession' |
| Grahame Smith, general secretary of the Scottish Trade Unions Congress, said the group "strongly endorses" Ms Sturgeon's approach. | Grahame Smith, general secretary of the Scottish Trade Unions Congress, said the group "strongly endorses" Ms Sturgeon's approach. |
| He said: "The Scottish economy, already weak due to the downturn in the oil and gas sector, risks falling into technical recession as a result of Brexit induced uncertainty. In this context it is important that the Scottish government accelerates capital projects where feasible in order to support employment." | He said: "The Scottish economy, already weak due to the downturn in the oil and gas sector, risks falling into technical recession as a result of Brexit induced uncertainty. In this context it is important that the Scottish government accelerates capital projects where feasible in order to support employment." |
| Scottish Labour has also published a Brexit action plan, calling for measures including a Brexit Support Fund for at-risk industries and increases in income tax to fund education. | Scottish Labour has also published a Brexit action plan, calling for measures including a Brexit Support Fund for at-risk industries and increases in income tax to fund education. |
| Economy spokeswoman Jackie Baillie welcomed the funding, but said the government could be "much bolder", with the the £100m committed "like a drop in the ocean". | Economy spokeswoman Jackie Baillie welcomed the funding, but said the government could be "much bolder", with the the £100m committed "like a drop in the ocean". |
| Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said the "modest measures" were welcome, but said the best way to boost Scotland's economy would be to "drop the threat" of a second independence referendum. | Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said the "modest measures" were welcome, but said the best way to boost Scotland's economy would be to "drop the threat" of a second independence referendum. |
| He said: "Far from seeking stability since the Brexit vote, Nicola Sturgeon has only exacerbated the uncertainty with her opportunistic talk of separation. This announcement is not a host of new projects - it is simply bringing forward works which were already planned." | He said: "Far from seeking stability since the Brexit vote, Nicola Sturgeon has only exacerbated the uncertainty with her opportunistic talk of separation. This announcement is not a host of new projects - it is simply bringing forward works which were already planned." |
| And Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie criticised the fact the £100m was sourced from a previous underspend. | |
| He said: "The SNP are talking about spending yesterday's money and asking us to believe that this is urgent action. This is ludicrous. Smoke and mirrors over funding that has been sat in Scottish government bank accounts since last year will not provide the boost our economy so desperately needs." | |
| Meanwhile, Mr Mundell is to meet young people involved with the Young Scot initiative and a business centre in Glasgow linked to the region's City Deal. | Meanwhile, Mr Mundell is to meet young people involved with the Young Scot initiative and a business centre in Glasgow linked to the region's City Deal. |
| The Scottish secretary said a "Team UK approach" was needed for the Brexit negotiations, urging the Scottish government to work together with the UK government to "maximise the opportunities for Scotland as the UK prepares to leave the EU". | The Scottish secretary said a "Team UK approach" was needed for the Brexit negotiations, urging the Scottish government to work together with the UK government to "maximise the opportunities for Scotland as the UK prepares to leave the EU". |
| Scotland Office minister Andrew Dunlop has also been meeting groups across the country in recent weeks. | Scotland Office minister Andrew Dunlop has also been meeting groups across the country in recent weeks. |