Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 16 March 2021
Measurement is, of course, hugely important for tracking progress. Mr Johnson will be well aware that I always endeavour to ensure that that is part of any plan that we produce. If he looks at actions 2 and 26, he will see a commitment to put in place measurement metrics that will enable us to track our progress against the targets that we have set for Scotland’s economy with regard to the capital investment that we attract—that is taken care of.
As for the investments that take place, we are talking about private sector investment and private sector opportunities, and the private sector takes its own due diligence approach. In situations where the public sector is also engaged, we would take steps to put due diligence in place—as we do.
That does not mean that every investment is always successful. By its nature, investment is a risk business. It is about understanding the balance between risk and reward and how to approach them. It is also about having the thorough due diligence that allows people to assess risks, take appropriate action and put in place mitigating measures to deal with any issues that arise with investments. Someone who wants a risk-free approach to investment never invests—that is the reality.
I welcome Mr Johnson’s comments encouraging the process, and I would welcome his commitment and support for what we are trying to achieve, recognising that, as we come out of Covid, these steps are hugely important for the development of Scotland’s economy.