Indyref: Businesses Will 'Flourish'

A 'yes' vote in the referendum will deliver new opportunities for small business and job creation, that's according to John Swinney.

The Finance Secretary will hold a meeting later with the Federation of Small Businesses.

Mr Swinney says firms will benefit from an economic policy with a focus on SME's and increased support for manufactuing, while the creation of a more efficient tax environment will reduce the burden on smaller organsations.

"A Yes vote is a real opportunity for Scotland's small and medium sized businesses to create jobs an grow the economy.

"SMEs are a hugely important part of Scotland's economy and with independence we can have an economic policy, at all levels, that supports small business.

"With independence we can make sure public spending benefits small business by directing even more government spending to Scotland's small and medium sized firms.

"In Scotland 46% of the value of all public contracts goes to SMEs.  In the UK it is only 10.5%.  With independence we will be able to expand our efforts to get SME’s involved in public contracts into new areas boosting business.

"We have already delivered the best tax regime for small business anywhere in the UK.  Independence will give us the opportunity to make life simpler  for small business by making it easier to pay taxes and comply with regulation.

"And with an economic policy designed for Scotland we can support our manufacturing industries, drive up exports and promote Scotland around the world.

"The anti-independence parties have offered business nothing, but scaremongering with no new powers to grow the economy, no additional support for business and no job creating powers for Scotland.

"Small businesses are the engines of Scotland's economy and with a yes vote we will have an opportunity to secure the best possible future for business in Scotland."