Kenneth Gibson MSP has welcomed a new Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report which sets out the measures that should be taken to boost growth in the UK, including a number of areas where the SNP Government is already taking action. Amongst its recommendations the report, Going for Growth 2016, calls for action to tackle educational attainment; increased access to childcare; greater investment in employment programmes; and prioritising public infrastructure investment. The report also echoes calls from the International Monetary Fund earlier this week for the UK Government to deliver additional investment to promote economic growth. Commenting, SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson, Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee said: “This report vindicates much of the work the SNP Government is already taking to increase growth in Scotland, including taking action to tackle the educational attainment gap, boost childcare and prioritise public infrastructure investment. “Funding to tackle the educational attainment gap will double over the next three years to £160 million and we have already increased the number of hours of free childcare available to three and four year olds and vulnerable two year olds by 45%. “Despite further Tory cuts to Scotland's budget of £371 million in the year beginning in March, SNP Government public infrastructure investment contributed up to a half of all economic growth in Scotland last year. “The SNP Government is investing to grow our economy. The UK government should heed increasing calls for them to change course and abandon their austerity obsession.” The OECD report can be found here:
