Orders 'fall' for Scottish engineering firms

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-32968621

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Scottish engineering firms have reported a drop in orders and output for the second quarter in a row.

A survey by industry body Scottish Engineering suggested orders across the sector fell slightly in the latest quarter.

It also indicated a further fall in export orders, but staffing levels were similar to the previous three months.

Scottish Engineering said the survey results had been influenced in part by the oil price fluctuation.

It also pointed to uncertainties surrounding the recent UK general election and Britain's membership of the European Union.

Its latest survey suggested all sectors in the engineering industry, except transport and non-metal products, experienced a fall in orders.

More firms also forecast "continued negative order levels" for the next three months for both the UK and overseas markets.

Scottish Engineering said its member companies hoped for "an amicable solution" to the question of EU membership, with Britain remaining in the union "under more beneficial terms".

Chief executive Bryan Buchan added: "We also feel that it is not in the best interests of the engineering manufacturing industry to have to wait until 2017 for the referendum.

"May or autumn of 2016 would be a much better proposition for companies considering investment in the UK, and of course Scotland."