David Wilson joins Scottish Fiscal Commission Board

David Wilson, executive director of the International Public Policy Institute at the University of Strathclyde, has been appointed as a member of the Scottish Fiscal Commission Board.

Mr Wilson joined Strathclyde in August 2015 from the Scottish Government, where he held a number of senior posts, including Director of Business and Director of Energy and Climate Change. He has extensive experience working as a professional economist, including the forecasting and scrutiny of energy and transport projects.

Mr Wilson said: “I am pleased to be appointed as a member of the Scottish Fiscal Commission. The Commission will enter a new phase of its development by becoming a statutory Non-Ministerial Department from 1 April. It will take on new responsibilities to make independent forecasts of economic growth and tax revenues. I am looking forward to building up the stakeholder and public engagement of the Commission, and working with a range of economic forecasters including the Fraser of Allander Institute at Strathclyde”.

Finance Minister Derek Mackay said: “The Scottish Fiscal Commission has provided impartial and expert scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s forecasts since its establishment, and provided Parliament and the public with assurance on their integrity. As the Commission moves onto a new statutory basis from 1 April, with direct responsibility for independent economic and fiscal forecasts, I very much welcome the role of Parliament in considering and approving these appointments, which I believe will strengthen the Commission.”