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Cabinet Secretary responds to manufacturing figures
02/04/2008
Mixed export figures demonstrate the need to make Scotland more competitive, John Swinney said today.
According to the Index of Manufactured Exports published today:
- Scottish manufactured export sales grew by 3.0 per cent over the 2007 calendar year
- but decreased by 2.0 per cent in real terms in 2007 Q4 (seasonally adjusted
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth said:
"These statistics show a mixed picture of growth through 2007 - but a dip in the final quarter.
"Although short term trends like this are always likely to be volatile, the decrease in exports may point to the downturn in global economic conditions which began to take effect in the latter half of 2007.
"No country can isolate itself from the prevailing global economic conditions. But what we can do is act to make Scotland more competitive - which is exactly what this government is doing.
"Business rates have now been cut for thousands of small businesses across Scotland and the reforms to our Enterprise Networks will mean more streamlined and focussed support for businesses.
"And through the Government Economic Strategy, our whole public sector is now focussed on creating the right conditions for increasing sustainable economic growth.
"What we don't need at a time of global economic uncertainty is taxation which hinders any of our key industries. A dip in drinks industry exports - which returned to levels closer to trend after recent fluctuations - is one reason why the figures are down for the final quarter of 2007.
"That makes the Chancellor's decision to impose punitive tax rises on the Whisky industry in particular even more frustrating. It gives licence to international competitors to raise tariffs on Scotch whisky at a time when crucial industries such as this need our support."