PM BROWN HOLDING RECOVERY BACK UNLESS HE AGREES TO MORE ACCELERATED SPENDING

PM BROWN HOLDING RECOVERY BACK UNLESS HE AGREES TO MORE ACCELERATED SPENDING

As figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal the UK economy in the grip of the worst recession since records began, SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP accused Gordon Brown of holding Scotland back unless he agrees to further accelerate capital spending and stimulate the economy back to growth.

Mr Hosie said:

“These grim figures must be a wake up call for Gordon Brown that we need to do more to stimulate the economy back to growth. If the prime minister fails to brings forward accelerated capital spending into next year he will effectively be holding Scotland back from recovery.

“By accelerating £350 million of capital spending into vital areas such as affordable housing and other infrastructure projects the Scottish Government has done what it can to fight recession, boost spending, and assist the construction sector during tough times. “Clearly, these resources have been spent, which is why we must now have a further acceleration of capital spending into 2010/11, so that we can maintain this enhanced level of spending for infrastructure and investment next year, and support thousands more jobs. Already, the Scottish Government’s recovery plan is supporting 15,000 jobs – despite Scotland’s budget being cut in real terms for the first time since devolution by the UK Labour government.”