UNISON welcomes the decision to establish a Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB). We have long argued that increased public investment is essential and that austerity policies are immensely damaging to the economy as well as to families struggling to get by. We have proposed that the Scottish Government and local authorities work with other public bodies in seeking innovative new ways of funding public infrastructure including using bonds and pension funds to invest in green, sustainable projects, such as social housing and municipal energy companies. UNISON believes the decision by the UK Government to sell off the Green Investment Bank was wrong. The SNIB should be a green and ethical bank, investing for the common good of the people of Scotland.