Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 02 December 2020
I welcome the debate, which has been brought to the chamber by Labour, given just how important a topic it is, not just because of the issues that it raises about BiFab but because of all the related matters regarding wider policy objectives and Government engagement. That is true not just in the context of the future of the economy in Fife, but also in terms of the 26th conference of the parties—COP26—and the opportunity that that affords for Scotland to lead the way when it comes to climate change and the green investment and job creation that must accompany it.
When Benny Higgins presented his report on economic recovery earlier in the year, he was adamant that Scotland, in its determination to deliver the triple targets of emissions reductions, the development of natural capital and green job creation, needs an investment-led recovery with good access to both capital and digital technologies. At the time, both he and Lord Smith of Kelvin were very clear about the need for much stronger relationships between industry and Government and for strengthened relationships between the Scottish and UK Governments. That demand is surely very much at the centre of this debate, because if we are to ensure that the green jobs are not just about wind turbines but about hydrogen technologies, electric buses, carbon capture and so on, we have to have Governments working together.
BiFab has, unquestionably, raised other issues, because it is quite clear that, until the joint communiqué of 24 November when the joint working party was established, Government has been failing the BiFab workforce. Let us be very clear that jobs at BiFab have long been under threat and it was deeply regrettable that both Governments concluded that nothing more could be done to support the company’s finances. Although we know that BiFab has undoubtedly encountered issues of its own, especially with regard to outstanding payments and the resulting legal action taken by the German company EEW, the Scottish Government has lost £52.4 million in this debacle.