First Minister Alex Salmond has highlighted the importance of the commercial property industry to Scotland's economic recovery.

Yesterday the FM spoke to representatives of the commercial property industry at the Scottish Property Federation's annual conference in Edinburgh.

He highlighted how the Scottish Government has been working with the Scottish Property Federation to overhaul the planning system, tackle recession and combat climate change.

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First Minister Alex Salmond said: "The property industry makes a substantial contribution to the economy and the Scottish Government is doing all that it can to help the sector during difficult times.

"That's why we have brought forward £350 million capital spending to stimulate recovery, employment and benefit the construction sector; retained long term business rate relief for empty properties; and streamlined the planning process to give the system its most significant modernisation in more than 60 years.

"We will continue to work with key organisations such as the Scottish Property Federation to encourage major investment in Scotland to support the commercial property industry, maintain standards and enable economic recovery."

The Scottish Government hopes to work with the commercial property industry to realise their world leading climate change targets.

(GK/BMcC)