Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott) Con

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-01740, in the name of Nicola Sturgeon, on the agenda for cities.14:57

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy (Nicola Sturgeon) SNP

This is an important debate not only for our cities, but for the regions in which they sit and, I argue, for all of Scotland. It is good to see so many membe...

Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Scottish Labour welcomes the debate and the publication of the strategy for cities, which can help to shape the Scottish Government’s cities policy and provi...

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee City West) (SNP) SNP

Does the member acknowledge that the cities growth fund was rolled into the local government allocation that the cities received?

Drew Smith Lab

I entirely accept that point, but rolling the fund into the allocation meant that it was used to pursue the Scottish Government’s priorities, whereas its pur...

Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con) Con

Well, I had good news and bad news. The good news was a call from the business team, saying that the Conservative spokesman had an opportunity in this aftern...

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Lab

Do it!

Jackson Carlaw Con

I am tempted, but I do not know whether it will help the Presiding Officer to stretch out the afternoon.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

Please do not do it, Mr Carlaw.

Jackson Carlaw Con

I accept the report and its contention that cities are a good thing; that Scotland has some; and that they are generally to be commended. Indeed, I share the...

Drew Smith Lab

I commend to the member the Glasgow Economic Commission, which has involved the private sector in its work; indeed, the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is one of...

Jackson Carlaw Con

I fully accept that point, but I am sure that Mr Smith would accept that, as they go about their day, most businesspeople concentrate on their business. I do...

Nicola Sturgeon SNP

They are certainly not watching Mr Carlaw.

Jackson Carlaw Con

I am the first to admit that they would be very disappointed if they were watching this afternoon.Businesses do what they need to do, and businesspeople want...

Maureen Watt SNP

Will the member give way?

Jackson Carlaw Con

Of course. Interruption.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Can we have Maureen Watt’s microphone on, please?

Maureen Watt SNP

It was my fault; I did not have my card in.The member should get out a bit more. What he calls for is precisely what is happening in Aberdeen, where people a...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I would be grateful if you could come to a conclusion, Mr Carlaw.

Jackson Carlaw Con

I will do so by saying that my son is at university in Aberdeen, so I get to visit Aberdeen quite regularly. I congratulate Maureen Watt on what will be an e...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

We now move to the open debate. Although we are not awash with time, we have a little bit of leeway for interventions.15:28

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee City West) (SNP) SNP

Members will not be surprised to hear that my speech will focus on my home city, Dundee.The opening statement by the cabinet secretary, the additional £2 mil...

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

The member and I both welcomed this week’s announcement of the enterprise zone. Has he had any indication from his Government about what form the incentives ...

Joe FitzPatrick SNP

Dundee City Council is engaging with the cabinet secretary to ensure that, by working together, Dundee and Edinburgh get the best impact for us. It is import...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I would be grateful if the member could start to conclude.

Joe FitzPatrick SNP

The development of Dundee as a base for renewables and the site of the V&A would not have come about were it not for the support of Dundee City Council, whic...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I remind members that if they wish to speak in the debate, they should press their request-to-speak buttons, and that if they intervene, they should then pre...

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate. I want to focus on the challenges for the Fife region of being between two of Scotland’s largest cities—Dun...

Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) SNP

I thank John Park for his thought-provoking speech, which touched on issues that concern me, too. I will talk about community involvement and community benef...

Drew Smith Lab

The member can correct me if I am wrong, but has the SNP group in Glasgow City Council not expressed concerns about that project? It has not supported a spee...