§ 11. Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies his Department has made of the effects on the Scottish economy of the lower growth assumptions for the UK economy in 1998–99. [56111]
§ Mr. DewarThe most recent independent forecast from Business Strategies Limited, published last month, suggests that growth in Scottish GDP will be slightly below UK growth in 1998 but will exceed UK growth in 1999. Unemployment in Scotland continues to fall, and employment to rise.