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In a speech today at a CBI Scotland dinner in Inverness, Scotland Office Minister David Mundell highlighted the steps the UK Government is taking to rebalance the economy and urged businesses, charities and trade associations in the Highlands to step forward and be at the heart of the 鈥済reat debate鈥� surrounding the independence referendum

Mr Mundell鈥檚 speech came after a day of engagements in Inverness centered around the UK Government鈥檚 welfare reform programme. This included meeting Citizens Advice, Highland and Moray Councils, SCVO and visiting Highland Foodbank.

Extracts from David Mundell鈥檚 speech at CBI Scotland dinner 鈥� Inverness, 14 March 2013

鈥淭hank you very much for inviting me to join you here today in Inverness. It is a real pleasure to be here and to have an opportunity to talk to you and to answer your questions.

鈥淎ccording to latest national statistics, since the introduction of devolution in 1999 the value of economic activity per person in the central Highlands has increased by over 77% from just under 拢10,000 to over 拢17, 500. Indeed the local area of Inverness & Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey recorded the highest rise in economic activity per person in Scotland, together with Shetland and well above the Scottish average, showing how well this part of Scotland is performing economically.

鈥淏ut we recognise that families and individuals up and down the country are facing challenges. Businesses like those represented by the CBI are at the heart of rebuilding our economy and we want to work with you to strengthen our economic prospects and build a better future: one that offers opportunity to all.

鈥淎s a Government we are focussed on playing our part in rebalancing our economy, encouraging investment and supporting business.

鈥淲e are also taking action to improve the UK鈥檚 export performance and the Secretary of State has commissioned Brian Wilson the former UK trade minister to carry out a review of supporting Scottish exporting to make sure that Scotland gets full advantage of the measures we are taking forward.

鈥淎nd closer to home for us here today, we have provided 100% capital allowances for plant or machinery investment at Enterprises Areas in Scotland including a dedicated site in Nigg.

鈥淪mall and medium sized businesses in Scotland are receiving support through the temporary increase in the Additional Investment Allowance. This increase is significant. 皇冠体育app Allowance is going up from 拢25,000 to 拢250,000 for two years and will allow businesses to invest in qualifying plant and machinery 鈥� helping to provide a real boost to our industries and wider economy.

鈥淚t is not only through investment that we can support business and the wider economy here in Scotland and across the rest of the UK.

鈥溁使谔逵齛pp Government鈥檚 strategy of fiscal credibility is also key to building a fundamentally stronger economy.

鈥淎s part of that, the Autumn Statement delivered a fiscally neutral package of measures. This approach has delivered near-record low interest rates, vital for our businesses and households across Scotland.

鈥淪cottish businesses will benefit from the further 1% cut in the main rate of corporation tax which comes in from 2014, reducing the rate to 21%, the lowest in the G7.

鈥淲e are also setting up a UK Business Bank, to tackle long standing structural problems in the supply of finance to SMEs and mid sized corporates. 皇冠体育app bank will receive 拢1bn of UK Government funding to deploy in a way that levers in extra private sector finance and stimulates the development of new sources of finance.

鈥淏ut it鈥檚 not the economy we are investing in. Last year saw a great deal of time invested in the referendum process. Governments are often accused of talking too much about process, but as someone who played a part in those discussions I know that in this case the process was crucial to get right 鈥� and get it right we have.

鈥淏usinesses in Scotland have access to a single domestic market across the whole UK with no borders to restrict the free movement of goods and people 鈥� a far more deeply integrated market than currently achieved in the European Union. Scotland trades almost twice as many goods and services with England, Wales and Northern Ireland as with all the other countries of the world combined.

鈥淏eing part of the larger UK generates jobs in Scotland, and reduces costs, encourages innovation and provides greater consumer choice. Scotland鈥檚 key specialisms in financial services, energy and defence industries. benefit from being part of the balanced UK economy, which provides a larger market, protects employment and ensures their sustainability:

鈥淭ogether we are greater than the sum of our parts. If people in Scotland vote to stay a part of the United Kingdom next year - we will retain the security, scale, influence and integration that we all share

鈥淎s part of the UK Scotland walks taller and shouts louder on the world stage. Our voice reaches more people in every corner of the globe.

鈥淥ur papers over the course of 2013 will set out the evidence about how devolution works in 21st century Britain, the facts about the way in which it benefits us as citizens and the analysis of what would be lost by leaving the UK family.

鈥淚n this debate, I want all of you to be active participants. Many of you are already involved in the UK Government鈥檚 work. But for those of you who aren鈥檛, I say: please get involved.

鈥溁使谔逵齛pp next period of this discussion must not just involve politicians. I want businesses, charities, trade associations like the CBI to be at the heart of this great debate as well.

鈥淏ut this will be debate of the heart as well as the head and I relish the opportunity to make the case for a strong proud Scotland within a secure and optimistic United Kingdom.