Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 29 April 2025
29 Apr 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Supporting Scottish Industry
Thank you.
On the point about steel, just last week, I read in the media that the current UK Government is considering importing coal to support our steel industry. That is a significant departure and is perhaps indicative of some of the choices that we have made as we try to achieve net zero. The issue is that we have not stopped using those products. We have not stopped needing steel for construction and we have not stopped needing metals and paper. All that is different now is that we purchase those products from other countries, which do not have the same commitment to meeting net zero as we do.
Therefore, the overall carbon emissions from producing those materials have not been reduced; all that we have done is export them to other countries. We can feel virtuous about the fact that our carbon emissions have reduced but, overall, they have not gone down.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-17352, in the name of Kate Forbes, on supporting Scottish industry during turbulent economic times. I wo...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes)
SNP
I will begin by saying that it is a matter of deep regret that Petroineos has closed the Grangemouth refinery. My immediate thoughts—and I am sure that I spe...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I agree with what the Deputy First Minister is saying, but does she share my concern and the concern of many members of this Parliament that we learned this ...
Kate Forbes
SNP
I heard Mr Kerr’s point of order earlier. The point with which I agree the most is that having the workforce learn of any such decision through the media doe...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
I am grateful to the Deputy First Minister for giving way and for her answer to Stephen Kerr, but will she clarify whether the Government was given any warni...
Kate Forbes
SNP
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 de...
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP)
SNP
I know that the Government is aware of a growing manufacturing company, Nova Innovation, which is a leading tidal developer with a manufacturing site in Leit...
Kate Forbes
SNP
I am more than happy to meet with Ben Macpherson and Nova Innovation, which is exactly the kind of business that we want to support in Scotland, particularly...
Stephen Kerr
Con
Will the Deputy First Minister give way?
Kate Forbes
SNP
I love a proper debate, so I will be delighted to take another intervention.
Stephen Kerr
Con
I thank the Deputy First Minister for being generous in taking interventions. There are issues that should probably be addressed in a ministerial statement o...
Kate Forbes
SNP
Those are very good questions. Subject to the decision of the Parliamentary Bureau, I would be more than happy to come back to the Parliament with a statemen...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP)
SNP
Will the Deputy First Minister take an intervention?
Kate Forbes
SNP
Who could resist taking an intervention from Mr Ewing as well?
Fergus Ewing
SNP
I entirely share the Deputy First Minister’s sentiment, but does she agree that the biggest obstacle and greatest challenge that industry faces, whether in S...
Kate Forbes
SNP
Once again, on that particular issue, I could not agree more. Being clear about the root causes of the issues is vital if we want to support Scotland’s manuf...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
Will the Deputy First Minister give way?
Kate Forbes
SNP
Presiding Officer, will you remind me how much time I have?
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Fifteen minutes.
Kate Forbes
SNP
Oh, wonderful. I give way to Daniel Johnson.
Daniel Johnson
Lab
Thank you, Deputy First Minister—I will be brief. Despite today’s tragic announcements, does the Deputy First Minister accept that the UK Labour Government c...
Kate Forbes
SNP
I accept that the UK Government’s engagement was good from the very beginning, but my concern is that, if we compare it with the action that it took in relat...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Thank you, Deputy First Minister. Before I call the next speaker, I alert members to the fact that we have no time in hand and that, therefore, interventions...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I very much welcome this afternoon’s debate on supporting Scottish industry. I also welcome my good friend Jamie Greene to his new position as the economy le...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
I agree with Murdo Fraser on the fundamental importance of energy costs for the industrial strategy, but does he accept that the previous Tory Government’s s...
Murdo Fraser
Con
I am afraid that the member is wrong, and I will come on to explain why in just a moment.
Daniel Johnson
Lab
I look forward to that.
Murdo Fraser
Con
Thank you. On the point about steel, just last week, I read in the media that the current UK Government is considering importing coal to support our steel i...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
On that point, does Mr Fraser agree that, since the UK produces 1 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions and Scotland produces one tenth of that, we are re...
Murdo Fraser
Con
I thank Mr Ewing for that intervention. I struggle to disagree with much of anything that he has said. He makes his points very well. To come back to my bas...