SCOTLAND’S economic growth was “predictably poor” in the first three months of this year, an economist has said, despite new figures showing GDP increased by twice the rate of the UK over the same period.

Data from the Scottish Government showed GDP was up 0.2% between January and March, compared to 0.1% for the UK as a whole.

However, economic growth in Scotland was down on the final quarter of 2017 – when GDP had risen by 0.3% – and over the course of the last year the UK outperformed Scotland.

Comparing the 12 months to March 2018 to the previous 12 months, Scotland’s GDP grew by 0.8% – while the UK achieved twice that with a 1.6% rise.

The most recent figures also showed that while output in the services and production sector grew by 01.4% and 0.9% respectively in the first quarter of 2018, the construction sector contracted by 3.5%.

This fall was in part blamed on the adverse weather experienced during February and March, which was dubbed the Beast from the East.

Economist John McLaren said: “Scotland’s GDP growth performance was predictably poor in the first quarter of 2018, given the well sign posted slump in the construction output.

“The underlying position has improved somewhat, with manufacturing and private sector services combined showing growth of over 2% on a year ago.”

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay, whose remit has now been expanded to include the economy, commented: “Despite the impact of the Beast from the East our economy continued to grow in the first quarter of 2018 making this the fifth consecutive quarter of growth.”

He stressed that Scotland’s economy remained “strong, with output per head the highest in the UK outside London and the south-east”.

But Mackay cautioned: “Our prospects for longer-term growth are threatened by Brexit and the prospect of being taken out of a market around eight times bigger than the UK’s market alone.

“That is what poses the most serious risk to jobs, investment, prosperity and living standards.”

However, McLaren said the new Finance and Economy Secretary “did not get off to a good start by claiming that ‘Scotland’s economy is strong, with output per head the highest in the UK outside London and the south-east.’”

McLaren added: “In fact, Scotland’s economy remains weak and output per head is unchanged on three years ago.”

Liz Cameron, director of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce welcomed the news that “Scotland’s GDP edged above the UK as a whole in the first quarter of 2018, leading to the fifth consecutive quarter of growth for the Scottish economy”.

However, she added: “These statistics continue to highlight that key issues in Scotland’s economy, particularly in the construction sector which has now contracted for nine successive quarters.

“The fall in Q1 was particularly pronounced for the sector, with the Beast from the East impacting activity.”

Cameron has called for action from the new Cabinet team put together by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s, urging them to “bring a renewed vigour to Scotland’s approach to the economic challenges that we face”.