Commenting on the publication of statistics which show that Scotland's economy shrank by 0.4% in the second quarter of 2012, Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:
'We have now had three consecutive quarters of contraction in the Scottish economy, with our own surveys suggesting that business sentiment during the summer remained at a low ebb. If our economy is to return to strong levels growth then it will be down to the private sector to provide this through the creation of wealth and employment opportunities.
'That said, demand at the moment is low and needs to increase. Business needs support from Government to assist us through these lean times. Scottish businesses have been remarkably resilient and have the spark to succeed but in some cases support is necessary at crucial phases of business development and the public sector can help to deliver the solutions.
'Government needs to recognise that this support must be delivered direct to where it matters. Where Government can support business, the priority for investment must be the business itself, not the creation and support of public sector structures. By getting support direct to Scotland's businesses, it will help them to succeed and grow, bringing our economy back to prosperity.'
