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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Economic summit to get under way | Economic summit to get under way |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| An economic summit is to be hosted by Alex Salmond and Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy to discuss ways of avoiding a recession. | An economic summit is to be hosted by Alex Salmond and Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy to discuss ways of avoiding a recession. |
| It will be attended by unions and employers, who are expected to call on government spending plans to be brought forward to fill gaps in order books. | It will be attended by unions and employers, who are expected to call on government spending plans to be brought forward to fill gaps in order books. |
| The meeting will mark the first time Mr Murphy has met the first minister since being appointed as Scottish secretary. | The meeting will mark the first time Mr Murphy has met the first minister since being appointed as Scottish secretary. |
| It will be held in St Andrews House, Edinburgh, on Tuesday afternoon. | It will be held in St Andrews House, Edinburgh, on Tuesday afternoon. |
| Mr Salmond is expected to demand a further cut in interest rates from Westminster, alongside a big public spending programme and the release of up to £1bn of what Mr Salmond claims is "Scotland's money" lying unused in various accounts in London. | Mr Salmond is expected to demand a further cut in interest rates from Westminster, alongside a big public spending programme and the release of up to £1bn of what Mr Salmond claims is "Scotland's money" lying unused in various accounts in London. |
| He will also be asking tough questions on the takeover of HBOS by Lloyds TSB. | He will also be asking tough questions on the takeover of HBOS by Lloyds TSB. |
| What I want to see more of from today's meeting is a real spirit of co-operation. I think that's very important Iain McMillanCBI Scotland | |
| For his part, Mr Murphy will be telling industry leaders that help is on the way, with the chancellor promising that Scotland will get its fair share of a Keynesian-style programme of public works. | For his part, Mr Murphy will be telling industry leaders that help is on the way, with the chancellor promising that Scotland will get its fair share of a Keynesian-style programme of public works. |
| Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Murphy said: "I am grateful the first minister has agreed to host the meeting I convened between us, the CBI and the STUC in Edinburgh. | Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Murphy said: "I am grateful the first minister has agreed to host the meeting I convened between us, the CBI and the STUC in Edinburgh. |
| "It is an important and necessary opportunity for the UK Government and the Scottish Government, business and employees' representatives to discuss how and where we can work together in the interests of the people of Scotland, at a time when - more than ever - that's what people expect of us." | "It is an important and necessary opportunity for the UK Government and the Scottish Government, business and employees' representatives to discuss how and where we can work together in the interests of the people of Scotland, at a time when - more than ever - that's what people expect of us." |
| Iain McMillan of CBI Scotland said he wanted to see all the groups involved co-operating with each other at the summit. | Iain McMillan of CBI Scotland said he wanted to see all the groups involved co-operating with each other at the summit. |
| He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We are supportive of the measures that we've heard so far, but what I want to see more of from today's meeting is a real spirit of co-operation. I think that's very important." | He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We are supportive of the measures that we've heard so far, but what I want to see more of from today's meeting is a real spirit of co-operation. I think that's very important." |
| He said he did not want to hear any arguments about the viability of Scotland as an independent country, or about the £1bn Alex Salmond claims should be handed over to Scotland. | He said he did not want to hear any arguments about the viability of Scotland as an independent country, or about the £1bn Alex Salmond claims should be handed over to Scotland. |
| 'Prolonged recession' | 'Prolonged recession' |
| Stephen Boyd from the STUC agreed that any action needed to be put in place quickly as he was expecting imminent official confirmation that the UK has already entered recession. | Stephen Boyd from the STUC agreed that any action needed to be put in place quickly as he was expecting imminent official confirmation that the UK has already entered recession. |
| He said he thought looking at the benefit levels of people who had been made unemployed would be a good start. | He said he thought looking at the benefit levels of people who had been made unemployed would be a good start. |
| Mr Boyd added: "I think the major danger facing the economy and society at the moment is the potential for a deep and prolonged recession. | Mr Boyd added: "I think the major danger facing the economy and society at the moment is the potential for a deep and prolonged recession. |
| "I think we're still living with the impacts of the recessions of the 80s and 90s, so I think we should have learned the lesson that doing all we can at this moment in time to help avoid a deep and prolonged recession will pay back in the future." | "I think we're still living with the impacts of the recessions of the 80s and 90s, so I think we should have learned the lesson that doing all we can at this moment in time to help avoid a deep and prolonged recession will pay back in the future." |
| Meanwhile, the independent Lothians MSP Margo MacDonald has written to Edinburgh's four MPs - one of whom is Chancellor Alastair Darling - asking them to look again at the proposed takeover of the bank by Lloyds TSB. | Meanwhile, the independent Lothians MSP Margo MacDonald has written to Edinburgh's four MPs - one of whom is Chancellor Alastair Darling - asking them to look again at the proposed takeover of the bank by Lloyds TSB. |
| She said she was hoping they would be able to address fears of possible job losses if the deal went ahead. | She said she was hoping they would be able to address fears of possible job losses if the deal went ahead. |