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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Consultation to seek views on national investment bank | Consultation to seek views on national investment bank |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A public consultation is to be launched on plans for a national investment bank for Scotland. | A public consultation is to be launched on plans for a national investment bank for Scotland. |
| First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the move at a conference on "inclusive growth" in Glasgow. | First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the move at a conference on "inclusive growth" in Glasgow. |
| The establishment of a Scottish national investment bank was included in Ms Sturgeon's programme for government, revealed in September. | The establishment of a Scottish national investment bank was included in Ms Sturgeon's programme for government, revealed in September. |
| Views will now be sought from the public on the detail of how the bank can support the Scottish economy. | Views will now be sought from the public on the detail of how the bank can support the Scottish economy. |
| Tesco Bank chief executive Benny Higgins has been appointed to head up a plan for its implementation. | Tesco Bank chief executive Benny Higgins has been appointed to head up a plan for its implementation. |
| Ms Sturgeon outlined her strategy to grow Scotland's economy and tackle inequality at an event in Glasgow. | Ms Sturgeon outlined her strategy to grow Scotland's economy and tackle inequality at an event in Glasgow. |
| The conference brought together speakers from international organisations, foreign governments, local authorities and academia to discuss Scotland's progress in the two areas. | The conference brought together speakers from international organisations, foreign governments, local authorities and academia to discuss Scotland's progress in the two areas. |
| Ms Sturgeon said: "The council of economic advisers identified a national investment bank as an important means of delivering infrastructure development, finance for high-growth businesses and strategic investments in innovation. | Ms Sturgeon said: "The council of economic advisers identified a national investment bank as an important means of delivering infrastructure development, finance for high-growth businesses and strategic investments in innovation. |
| "Today, we are launching a consultation on the details of how best the bank can achieve those aims and support Scotland's economy. | "Today, we are launching a consultation on the details of how best the bank can achieve those aims and support Scotland's economy. |
| "However, we recognise that inclusive growth is another essential part of our focus on innovation and productivity. | "However, we recognise that inclusive growth is another essential part of our focus on innovation and productivity. |
| "So, we've also announced a range of measures to ensure that as we transform our economy, we leave no-one in our society behind. | "So, we've also announced a range of measures to ensure that as we transform our economy, we leave no-one in our society behind. |
| "We will establish a Just Transition Commission - a panel of experts from across society that will advise us on how to make the move to a low-carbon economy as equitable as possible. | "We will establish a Just Transition Commission - a panel of experts from across society that will advise us on how to make the move to a low-carbon economy as equitable as possible. |
| "We will look at ways in which we can support the growth of employee ownership and continue to pursue our fair work agenda." | "We will look at ways in which we can support the growth of employee ownership and continue to pursue our fair work agenda." |
| 'Back of fag packet' | |
| Scottish Labour's economy spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: "A Scottish investment bank was a Labour manifesto commitment in June, and formed the centrepiece of the SNP's attempted relaunch in the programme for government. | |
| "Whilst imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the SNP appear to have only sketched this out on the back of a fag packet. | |
| "With confidence low and our economy fragile, businesses want action now, but beyond an advisory board Nicola Sturgeon has announced no detail in terms of how the bank should operate. | |
| "It sums up the approach of a government that has completely lost direction over economic policy." | |
| Andy Willox, Scottish policy convener for the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "While there's much to be applauded in the concept of a national investment bank, it shouldn't distract from other pressing matters. | |
| "For example, new figures out today show that Scotland's local roads are in an unacceptably poor condition and will continue to decline. | |
| "Addressing this sort of unglamorous but chronic problem would win the first minister plaudits amongst Scotland's smaller firms." |