Construction chiefs in Scotland have called on the forthcoming administration to give the industry the priority that its importance to the country’s economy deserves.

The industry bosses are part of the Scottish Construction Sector Pathfinder Group, which is chaired by Sir Fraser Morrison.

It was one of 13 bodies representing different industries that were asked by Lord Macdonald, minister in charge of the Scottish Office’s new Business and Industry Department, to make recommendations to the new parliament.

In its report, which was published on 30 March, the group makes five other key points.

It makes several appeals to the new parliament: to lay down a strategic planning framework for Scotland; to streamline the planning process; for construction expertise to be used in public-private partnerships with the aim of developing “under-utilised public assets”; for a levy on the use of infrastructure; and for housing stock to be transferred to housing associations.

Contractors Miller and Balfour Beatty, as well as housebuilder Cala, are part of the group.