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Henry McLeish comments on Publication of Scottish Index of Production
04/08/1999
In the year to 1999 Q1, output in Scotland's production industries expanded by 1.7 percent, compared with the previous four quarters (to 1998 Q1). Manufacturing output rose by 1.5 percent.
Commenting on today's publication of the Scottish Index of production for the first quarter of 1999, Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Henry McLeish said:
"Output in Scotland's production industries in the year to 1999 Quarter 1 has increased compared with the previous year. The figures also show that Scotland's producers and manufacturers are continuing to outperform the rest of the UK.
"There was a slight fall in production output in the latest quarter, with manufacturing output remaining flat, and I recognise that conditions remain difficult for manufacturers. The global slowdown means industrial production is weak across Europe and it is inevitable that lower world growth will impact on growth in Scotland. However, independent forecasters expect output in Scotland to recover in 2000 in line with growth in the UK and have suggested that there will be an earlier upturn in Scottish manufacturing output than in the UK as a whole."
News Release: SE0218/99
4 August 1999