Commenting on the first annual report from the Scottish Government’s Council of Economic Advisors, Liberal Democrat Finance spokesperson Jeremy Purvis said:

“The council’s warning proves that our concerns that the ‘business as usual’ budget from the Scottish Government, with less than 1 per cent change from last year’s draft budget, simply isn’t good enough. It is an insufficient response to the economic situation.

“Although it’s encouraging that the Council has produced recommendations to tackle the economic downturn in its annual report, questions remain about who is benefiting from its advice on a regular basis.

“When asked what advice the Government had received from the Council, the Enterprise Minister told a Scottish Parliament committee that it happened ‘above my pay grade’. This was the clearest admission yet that council members are being used as extremely well qualified window dressers.”