Growing the private sector is only way to bolster Scotland’s economy

An IPPR Report has found that 32.1 per cent of those employed in Scotland are in the public sector.

The report has also found that between 1998 and 2007, 77,000 jobs were created in the private sector, whereas 168,000 jobs were created in the public sector.

Gavin Brown MSP, Scottish Conservative Economy Spokesperson, said:

"Scottish Conservatives have always valued the vital contribution of entrepreneurs and small business to our economy. We are disappointed that the new Scottish Government Economic Strategy gives insufficient weight to improving our start-up rate, at a time when such an improvement is badly needed.

"That is why Scottish Conservatives want a Scottish Business Start Up Fund to support individuals access enterprise education, vocational training, and to provide grants and loans to assist in the creation of new businesses.

"We are also committed to delivering a step change in enterprise education in Scotland. Research from the Hunter Centre suggests that enterprise education doubles the likelihood of an individual becoming an entrepreneur. We want to make it compulsory to offer enterprise training at all colleges and universities, in partnership with local businesses.

"Scotland must put its faith in our entrepreneurs so we nurture new businesses, design new products and create new jobs. The only way to move Scotland forward is to grow the private sector. That is where the jobs of the future will come from and that is what we are committed to."

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