Taking Scotland Forward – Scotland’s Economy, Short Term Resilience and Long Term Opportunities

As an amendment to motion S5M-00212 in the name of Keith Brown (Taking Scotland Forward – Scotland’s Economy, Short Term Resilience and Long Term Opportunities), leave out from “; supports” to end and insert “, that the unemployment rate is 6.2% compared to the UK rate of 5.1%, the widest gap since 2004, and the fact that 19% of Scottish businesses cannot get the skills that they need; believes that such challenges and the slipping Scottish economy necessitate urgent new action to improve productivity through innovation, investment, internationalisation and tackling inequality, and further believes that this must include investment in education to give businesses the skills that they need and make Scottish education the best again, a step change in mental health services to help people get back to work and ensure a fit and healthy workforce, broadband and modern mobile phone coverage everywhere in Scotland, improved transport infrastructure, a competitive business tax system and the decentralisation of power so that communities have greater opportunities to secure economic progress in their area."