With the line-up of ministers to serve under the newly elected majority SNP Scottish Government due to be announced on Thursday, the Scottish construction industry has urged Alex Salmond to appoint a dedicated Scottish minister for construction as part of his new ministerial team.

Ahead of the announcement, the Scottish Building Federation and the Chartered Institute of Building Scotland have jointly highlighted the continuing importance of the industry to Scotland’s economy.

The construction sector contributes more than £10 billion annually to Scotland’s economic output and directly employs almost 200,000 Scots, while providing more apprenticeship opportunities each year than any other economic sector.

In a joint letter to the media, SBF and the CIoB Scotland have called on Alex Salmond, due to be re-elected as Scottish First Minister today (Wednesday), to take advantage of a hugely strengthened team of MSPs at Holyrood to appoint a minister with direct responsibility for addressing the needs of the building industry within Government.

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Former minister for enterprise, energy and tourism Jim Mather, who had ministerial responsibilities which included the construction industry, stood down at the May elections. With SNP representation at Holyrood significantly strengthened, it has been suggested that Mr Mather’s former portfolio will be divided between as many as three individual ministers.

Scottish Building Federation Chief Executive Michael Levack commented: “The Scottish construction sector directly employs 8% of Scotland’s working population and contributes more than 10% of Scotland’s total economic output annually.

“But it is an industry that suffers from fragmented representation at a political level and that is impacted by a wide range of policy areas.

“With the SNP having achieved a historic majority of MSPs elected to the Scottish Parliament, Alex Salmond should seize the opportunity to strengthen his ministerial team this week and appoint a dedicated minister for construction.”

Ken Morrison, Chair of the Chartered Institute of Building Scotland, added: “Such a strategically important industry deserves to have its own minister. I am confident that that individual would champion the interests of the industry within government and ensure that those policies impacting the construction sector are properly and effectively coordinated.”

(GK/KMcA)