The Scottish Building Federation has said that Scottish GDP figures for Scotland for the fourth quarter of 2009, published today, make "worrying reading" for the Scottish construction industry and has called on general election candidates from all parties to give greater attention to the needs of the construction sector in the run-up to polling day on the 6th May.

SBF Chief Executive Michael Levack said: "The latest GDP figures for Scotland make for worrying reading for the construction sector on two counts. First, while the Scottish economy as a whole showed some weak signs of recovery in the last three months of last year, output from the building sector fell by a further 2.8%.

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"Meanwhile, the signs are that construction south of the border is beginning to stabilise but this appears not to be the case here in Scotland. With the bad weather we witnessed in early 2010, I fear that next quarter’s construction output figures will be just as bad – if not worse."

Commenting on the ongoing general election campaign, Mr Levack added: "So far, the general election campaign has given too little attention to the needs of Scotland’s construction sector.

"I hope that today’s sobering figures will prompt candidates from all parties to place a much greater focus on the Scottish construction sector’s plight. "Whatever colour of UK government is elected on the 6th May, it must do everything in its power to stem the damaging loss of jobs, skills and capacity from Scottish construction that lies behind today's figures."

(GK/BMcC)