Scottish GDP figures

Commenting on today’s [17 June] Scottish GDP figures, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

These figures confirm the terrible impact coronavirus has had on our economy.

The UK Government has put in place unprecedented measures to support people. Our furlough scheme, and support for the self-employed, has protected the incomes of almost 800,000 Scots – a more than quarter of the workforce. That’s been accompanied by an extra £3.8 billion of funding for the Scottish Government.

Across the UK we will continue to prioritise public health. But now the Scottish ‘R value’ is holding below one, we must also start looking at how to open our economy safely. People need to get back carefully to a more normal way of life, and the Scottish Government should keep an open mind about the measures needed to get Scotland moving again.

We will do everything we can to continue to support our great Scottish businesses as they begin to slowly reopen and start to recover in the weeks and months ahead.