Michael Levack, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Federation, has cautiously welcomed yesterday's announcement by Scottish Government Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop of a £1.25bn school construction and refurbishment programme.

But with construction in the grips of a sustained downturn and a large number of existing school projects due to reach completion this summer, he has underlined the urgent need to maintain a consistent supply of capital projects to sustain the Scottish construction sector through the coming months.

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Mr Levack welcomed the announcement as an important step forward towards implementing a fresh round of investment in construction and refurbishment of schools in Scotland.

"For the building industry, the key question has to be when these projects will start. The Scottish Government has indicated that work on a first phase could begin in early 2010."

Mr Levack said there is "literally no time to lose" with more than £1bn of school and hospital projects due to reach completion by November of this year.

"I would urge the Scottish Government to do everything in its power to make sure that early 2010 is absolutely the latest that work on the first phase of this new school investment programme actually begins."

(GK/BMcC)