"Banks need to act with the grain of society to create a sustainable society" Thurso

12.00.00am GMT Sat 6th Mar 2010

Speaking today at the Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference, John Thurso MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business called for a radical change in the way the UK economy works with an end to the economy's unsustainable reliance on finance for economic growth.

John was the guest speaker at a talk on "Scotland's future jobs? Green Economic Growth".

As the lead on the Liberal Democrat Business manifesto that is due out next week John argued that "sustainability has to be front and centre with everything we do in business and our economic endeavour" banking which business relies on for credit.

The local MP was in little doubt that there would be many quality jobs in Scotland in the new green industry. He was also highly optimistic that the UK would be able to translate its lead in marine wave technology into a manufacturing industry - something the country significantly failed to do in terms of off-shore wind where the manufacturing bases are now in Holland and Germany.

Asked if his area of Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross still had the skills these industries would need he replied that although nationally he felt that the lack of engineers would be a huge problem in the future - in terms of the north many skilled workers were now forced to work abroad and if enough quality jobs were created they would be keen to return.