AMID a slew of grim economic news, much of it related to the dampening impact of Brexit and well-founded fears over the future as the UK leaves the European Union, the CBI’s latest Scottish manufacturing survey is a mild tonic.

It signals the fastest rise in new orders for Scottish manufacturers since October 1973 in the three months to July, and the sharpest increase in employment since comparable records began in June 1966. Scottish manufacturers are also upbeat about the prospects for the coming three months.

It is worth emphasising the CBI survey has, over the last couple of years, signalled major volatility for the sector in Scotland in terms of new orders, employment and output volumes, showing sharp drops as well as big rises.

And the CBI’s report, like a survey last week from Scottish Chambers of Commerce, points to skills shortages. This is very worrying amid signs that workers from other EU member states are leaving the UK in the wake of the Brexit vote, and given justified fears among businesses over future immigration policy.

We also have to bear in mind manufacturing, while still a crucial sector, accounts for only about 10 per cent of economic output in the UK as a whole these days.

That said, the strong CBI manufacturing survey is welcome. It is important for this sector, and the Scottish economy as a whole, that manufacturing has as much momentum as possible.

We are, after all, heading into even tougher times, with a continuing lack of clarity from the UK Government one of few certainties for a justifiably concerned business sector.