Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 05 March 2025
05 Mar 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
United Kingdom Economy
When it comes to the motion and the debate, if London is stripped out of the economic data, the performance report for the UK looks different. Certainly, a lack of investment generally in anything north of Cambridge becomes visible, and the signs of the regions dealing with the endemic poverty that was ground into place during the Thatcher years become obvious.
However, if we are to speak about really rebalancing the economy, both Scotland and the wider UK have a bigger challenge ahead of them. The fever smell in the air and the sound on the wind is a drive for growth, because growth will magically solve all our problems, right? Never mind that the USA, which has had the largest growth for the longest time, has lower life expectations, more citizens who do not have access to healthcare, a higher rate of maternal mortality, more violent crime and poorer work-life balance than European countries that have lower rates of growth. The US child poverty rate is more than double that of the UK, Sweden and France. The average American has a carbon footprint of around 16 tonnes, which is one of the highest in the world, while the average European has a carbon footprint of around 7.25 tonnes. Clearly, growth is not everything.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16667, in the name of Kate Forbes, on achieving a fair balance in the United Kingdom economy. I invite me...
The Minister for Business (Richard Lochhead)
SNP
We are discussing the future of Scotland’s economy against a backdrop of international uncertainty. Right now, it can feel that the world is walking backward...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the minister for referring to the south of Scotland—particularly the south-west. Is he not aware that what businesses such as Stena Line really want...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
Roads are, of course, important—all transport links are important. The Scottish Government is doing all that we can with our limited resources to push forwar...
Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I wonder whether the minister listened to the speech that the Prime Minister made in Glasgow just last weekend, when he announced £200 million of investment ...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I did, and I have already mentioned it in my speech and welcomed it. Of course, that was after a bit of a backlash from the Labour Party’s member of the UK P...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
It is going to be a long afternoon, given what we have just heard. However, I am pleased that we are having another economy debate—the second in a week. I ho...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Murdo Fraser
Con
Of course.
Kate Forbes
SNP
I recognise that the member will want to set out what his Government did. I start by commending it for announcing the supercomputer for the University of Edi...
Murdo Fraser
Con
Yes—I agree with the Deputy First Minister on that point. A range of other projects were proposed by the previous Conservative Government, not least project...
Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
It was with genuine disappointment that I read the motion that we have been asked to discuss. That said, I agreed with almost every word in the first half of...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I am pleased that the member agreed with 50 per cent of my speech—I would have been worried if he had agreed with 100 per cent of it. When he reflects on how...
Michael Marra
Lab
I simply do not recognise that description of the chancellor’s approach, and I can set out exactly why that is the case. As the chancellor for the whole of t...
Craig Hoy
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Michael Marra
Lab
No, thank you, sir. I will set that out in some detail. The investment that I have just mentioned will support up to 1,000 skilled jobs in the construction,...
Craig Hoy
Con
Will Michael Marra take an intervention?
Michael Marra
Lab
No thank you, sir. There is a further £1.4 billion for local growth projects—at least £200 million for specific Scottish towns, including £20 million for gr...
Lorna Slater (Lothian) (Green)
Green
When it comes to the motion and the debate, if London is stripped out of the economic data, the performance report for the UK looks different. Certainly, a l...
Craig Hoy
Con
Can the member explain the causal link between economic growth and violent crime?
Lorna Slater
Green
The causal link is that a focus on economic growth, instead of on tackling inequality, results in crime. We know that societies that have gross inequality, s...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
The motion makes an important point about ensuring that investment does not unfairly focus on one area. I understand the sentiment that is contained in the m...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to the open debate. I advise members that one of the SNP speakers has had to pull out at the last minute in the light of illness. It has been agreed ...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
Scotland has extraordinary economic potential. We have been inventors in the past, we have innovated in oil and gas and we have key sectors such as renewable...
Craig Hoy
Con
Is Mr Stewart aware that one of the engines of the London economy is the financial services sector? Will he therefore take the advice of Scottish Financial E...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
Funnily enough, I was just going to come to the London financial sector. We have been promised that Scotland’s wealth flowing south to be invested in London ...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
As we all know, throughout the centuries, Scotland has produced an army of great inventors whose boundless imagination and inspiration have set us apart from...
Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I am disappointed that the Scottish Government chose to lodge the motion, which is based on a selection of recent UK Government announcements, and to play a ...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
Will Mr Choudhury give way?
Foysol Choudhury
Lab
I have a lot to get through. I repeat my remark that, if we want to have growth, we need investment in infrastructure, and the Scottish Government should sh...