This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7668536.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Salmond draws up economy aid plan Salmond draws up economy aid plan
(29 minutes later)
The Scottish Government is drawing up a six point action plan to try to save the Scottish economy from recession.The Scottish Government is drawing up a six point action plan to try to save the Scottish economy from recession.
The plan, agreed by a meeting of a special economic cabinet, is designed to boost development and help the poorest households.The plan, agreed by a meeting of a special economic cabinet, is designed to boost development and help the poorest households.
First Minister Alex Salmond told cabinet colleagues there was no doubt the financial crisis would have a serious impact on the wider economy.First Minister Alex Salmond told cabinet colleagues there was no doubt the financial crisis would have a serious impact on the wider economy.
The action plan includes bringing forward investment programmes.The action plan includes bringing forward investment programmes.
Inject demandInject demand
This has already been done on social housing.This has already been done on social housing.
It also hopes to stimulate economic development by promoting tourism through events such as the Year of Homecoming and by simplifying the planning system.It also hopes to stimulate economic development by promoting tourism through events such as the Year of Homecoming and by simplifying the planning system.
Three further measures seek to help individual households.Three further measures seek to help individual households.
These relate to energy efficiency, financial and benefit advice and action on fuel poverty.These relate to energy efficiency, financial and benefit advice and action on fuel poverty.
Specific details have yet to be fixed but ministers hope to make announcements on each point of the plan within the next few weeks.Specific details have yet to be fixed but ministers hope to make announcements on each point of the plan within the next few weeks.
Mr Salmond had earlier called for a £1bn funding package to be released from various UK government funds to "inject demand and confidence" in to the Scottish economy. Labour's leader in the Scottish Parliament, Iain Gray, said the first minister needed to ensure the plan was "not all spin and no action".
He said the fossil fuel levy, the Scottish Government underspend currently held at Westminster and the council tax benefit mechanism could free hundreds of millions of pounds to benefit the Scottish economy. He said: "Labour welcomed the announcement of £100m allocated to the affordable housing investment programme back in August.
In addition, he wants to see the Barnett formula take account of the impact of London Olympics regeneration spending to allocate more money to Scotland. "However so far we are very disappointed that only £9m has actually been brought forward. That leaves a shortfall of £91m and of that £40m has still to be agreed with councils. "
Labour argues ministers could speed up investment if they scrapped the Scottish Futures Trust - the new body being set up to fund major building projects. He added that Labour would continue to urge the Scottish Government to bring forward capital building programmes and warned that delays to the new Scottish Futures Trust were leading to a "black hole" in funding for public projects.