New figures released by the Scottish Government today show that Scottish GDP growth exceeded the UK growth rate in the last quarter of 2007. However, the figures also show that Scottish growth was slower for the year 2007. 

Scottish GDP rose by 2.2 per cent in 2007 and by 0.9 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2007. In comparison, UK GDP rose by 2.9 per cent in 2007 and by 0.6 per cent over the final quarter of 2007.

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney said: “The Scottish economy grew at a faster rate than the UK in the last quarter of 2007, a welcome and positive piece of news in the current climate. The financial services sector was buoyed by the highest ever quarterly growth in banking.

“But overall growth over the year lags behind the UK growth rate, highlighting the important focus of the Scottish Government on increasing sustainable economic growth.

“Scotland is not isolated from global conditions. Looking ahead, we know the labour market in Scotland remains resilient and performs better than the UK, with a lower unemployment and higher employment rate. Business survey evidence suggests GDP growth may slow in the first quarter of 2008.

“It brings into sharp relief the urgent need to make Scotland a more competitive environment to put us on the course for long-term success and achieve our target of matching the UK growth rate.

“We are already delivering - we have saved millions of pounds for 150,000 small businesses by reducing business rates at a time when costs are rising. This is money that can be reinvested in improving small business.

“We have refocused enterprise networks and our Government Economic Strategy puts increasing sustainable economic growth at the heart of everything we do. We must push ahead with these reforms and make Scotland better able to withstand the pressures the future may bring.”

Commenting on the figures, CBI Scotland’s assistant director, David Lonsdale, said the increase in growth was “heartening”.

He added: “Scotland's economy continues to perform moderately well, but the challenge will be to sustain that - let alone improve on it - if the wider UK economic growth rate sags this year and next as forecast.

“The devolved government can help by providing a supportive climate for business, and the recent opening up of the water services market, the changes to the enterprise networks, and the reduction in non-domestic rates, are welcome steps in the right direction. However, the administration needs to drive forward a bolder reform agenda, one that delivers measurable improvements to the planning system, ensures far greater private sector involvement in the delivery of public services, and which frees up public funds for infrastructure investment by privatising Scottish Water.”

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