Tories plan merger of agencies into Growth Scotland – Daily Business

Murdo Fraser: policy should be subject to a growth test (pic: DB Media Services)

The Scottish Conservatives have said they would reshape Scotland’s economic development framework and subject every government policy to a “growth test”.

The party says economic growth must be the number one objective for the next Scottish Government and that every proposal should be viewed through that lens.

Its pro-business manifesto includes merging Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish National Investment Bank and Skills Development Scotland into a new agency called Growth Scotland.

It would be backed by a Scottish Growth Fund worth at least half a billion pounds a year. It would have a dedicated exports support division. The party has previously pledged to cap business rates rises.

Scottish Conservative business spokesman Murdo Fraser said: “Scotland’s economy has stagnated for years under the dead hand of SNP high taxes and regulation.

“That has to end. The next Scottish Government must focus relentlessly on the economy – and that’s why we’d subject every new policy to a growth test.

“The Scottish Conservatives would leave Nicola Sturgeon’s woke and damaging Wellbeing Economy Alliance, and focus unapologetically and unremittingly on policies that stimulate growth and create jobs.

“Scottish firms are crying out for help and, as the party of business, the Scottish Conservatives have their back and the back of the hard-working Scots they employ.”

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