Commenting on the first Annual Report of the First Minister’s Council of Economic Advisers, Stephen Boyd, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) Assistant Secretary, said:
“Following the publication of its first annual report, we simply have to ask of the Council: what is it for?
“As a lesson in the banal the report is peerless. It is difficult to discern any new or innovative thinking in its 60 pages. For instance, whilst recommendations on energy policy and improving Scottish economic statistics are welcome, they do not come close to breaking new ground. Similarly, the Council’s contribution to the long running debate on planning is so weak as to be utterly pointless.
“For a group constituting ‘the most formidable intellectual firepower ever to have tackled Scottish economic underperformance’, it is particularly worrying that sections of the report appear to ignore the evidential base. For example, reflecting the long standing prejudices of its Chair, the Council calls for an extension in flexible labour markets thereby ignoring the wealth of international comparative evidence demonstrating that the UK is already very lightly regulated.
“In considering how it might improve its own performance over the coming year, perhaps the Council should consider actually engaging with stakeholders in the Scottish economy? Starting a meaningful dialogue with the Scottish Parliament would be a useful first step”.
ENDS
For further information contact Stephen Boyd 0141 337 8100