Scotland’s Future: Economic Policy Choices in an Independent Scotland

Scotland's economy will benefit from independence over the uncertainty that would face the country within the UK, Finance Secretary John Swinney will say later today. Speaking at the first annual Policy Scotland lecture at the University of Glasgow Mr Swinney will say that Scotland's economic performance has improved significantly since 1999 with Scotland reaching similar levels of productivity and earnings to the rest of the UK. He will also add that independence provides the opportunity to go further by creating more jobs. Mr Swinney will say that where Scotland's Future addresses the challenges facing the Scottish Economy - the unequal and imbalanced structure of the UK is holding Scotland back. Ahead of the speech the Finance Secretary said: "In Scotland's Future people now have a vision of how independence will work and of what independence can offer. "Scotland's Future identifies the challenges Scotland face if our economy is to compete with the most dynamic economies in the world and if we are to increase levels of equality and participation at home. "But where Scotland's Future shows how the tools of independence can be used to meet those challenges, those opposed to independence have yet to say how remaining in a state as economically imbalanced as the UK can benefit Scotland." "In the speech he will highlight the success already delivered with devolution and the benefits independence can bring: "With the limited powers of devolution we have already seen an improved performance across a range of key economic indicators, both in absolute terms and relative to the rest of the UK.