Labour's pledge on high-tech jobs

Iain Gray and Gordon Banks at the bottled water company Highland Spring

Labour has pledged to bring at least 100,000 skilled jobs to Scotland in five years, as part of its vision for a "high-tech" economy.

Scottish leader Iain Gray made the claim as the first full day of election campaigning got under way.

All parties are continuing to focus on their plans for economic recovery.

Voters will go to the polls on 6 May, after Prime Minister Gordon Brown officially confirmed the election timetable on Tuesday.

Mr Gray, who was visiting bottled water company Highland Spring, said jobs such as those at the company, based in Blackford, Perthshire, were key to fighting the effects of the recession.

Green jobs

"Labour will bring at least 100,000 skilled jobs to Scotland by building a high-tech economy," said Mr Gray, who was campaigning with Ochil and South Perthshire candidate, Gordon Banks.

"Scotland has a series of industries, like the premium food and drink sector, that we need to support to build our economic future.

"We also have world-leading potential in green jobs, computer games, biotechnology and a host of other industries."

Attacking the SNP, Mr Gray said the "Salmond slump" was costing jobs, adding that voting for the Nationalists would bring in a Tory government "through the back door".