Meeting of the Parliament 29 April 2025
With regard to the finer points of timescales, the only reason why I cannot be definitive is that I was in Cabinet this morning and I, too, learned of the decision from online sources. I cannot say whether the wider Government was informed in advance, but, if that was the case, it is highly unlikely that it was by more than a few minutes. I would give a more definitive answer, but Mr Johnson has asked about timescales, and I was certainly not given any advance warning, as far as I know. The team of officials at the back of the chamber might want to clarify that.
The workforce’s skills are valued and we want the workers to stay, live and work in Scotland. That is why we have provided up to £450,000 for a skills intervention that is being delivered by Forth Valley College to help to retrain and upskill affected workers. That will enable them to progress to the sort of new jobs that will be created through the project willow proposals and other opportunities across the Grangemouth cluster. The United Kingdom Government must also stand shoulder to shoulder with those who have contributed so much to the Scottish economy. I will have more to say on that later.
This debate could not be more timely. It is an opportunity to recognise the huge contribution that Scottish manufacturing and heavy industry play in our economy and our social and cultural lives. They are the lifeblood of our rich industrial heritage.