Commenting on the Scottish Economic Report published today (Wednesday) by the Scottish Executive the SNP Shadow Economy Minister Mr Andrew Wilson MSP said that this report highlighted Scotland's economic underperformance in the union, with a growth rate of just point six percent (0.6) over 2001 compared to two percent (2) in the UK. Mr Wilson said:

"This report confirms that Scotland is being held back as part of the union. Our growth rate for 2001 was only 0.6 percent compared to a UK rate of 2 percent.

"The report also highlights that Scotland's manufacturing sector is in crisis, slumping 8.2 percent in 2001 compared to a fall in the UK of 2.3 percent over the same period.

"These statistics highlight that as part of the UK, Scotland is bound to a low growth relative decline while the unionist political classes in Scotland care only about addressing the symptoms of this decline rather than its root cause.

"We need independence in order to equip ourselves with the powers to place our economy at a competitive advantage to the rest of the UK and deliver a national consensus behind the need to grow Scotland's economic strength."