Commenting on the Chancellor's Budget Statement, Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:

 

"This is a missed opportunity for the Government to rethink their plans to increase National Insurance Contributions for employers and employees next year.  This NIC rise will be a tax on jobs at a time when businesses can least afford it.  Equally unwelcome is the additional tax on the Scotch Whisky industry, targetting one of our most important export industries.

 

"More positive is the news that the Financial Services Authority will be speeding up the approval process for new banks, easing the path towards greater competition in business banking services.  We also welcome the promise of greater investment in skills and education, though we will need to see the detail of how this will be applied in Scotland.