Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-01336, in the name of Alex Neil, on the regeneration strategy.I call on Alex Neil to speak to and move th...

The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment (Alex Neil) SNP

Thank you very much indeed, Presiding Officer. I will try to use it as productively as possible, as always.Regeneration of Scotland’s most disadvantaged areas—

The Presiding Officer NPA

Excuse me, minister, could you sit down for a moment?The minister’s microphone is not on. Will broadcasting please put it on? Perhaps the minister could move...

Alex Neil SNP

It is on now.

The Presiding Officer NPA

Indeed it is.I again call on Alex Neil to speak to and move the motion. You still have 14 minutes, but it is now not such a generous 14 minutes.

Alex Neil SNP

I will add injury time.Regeneration of Scotland’s most disadvantaged areas and strengthening of our communities are key priorities for the Scottish Governmen...

Michael McMahon (Uddingston and Bellshill) (Lab) Lab

I agree with the minister that we need to take a community-based bottom-up approach as far as that is possible. However, in the case of regeneration projects...

Alex Neil SNP

As the member will know, the Scottish Government has given priority to Ravenscraig; indeed, it is the subject of one of our TIF pilot projects. Along with No...

The Presiding Officer NPA

I now call Michael McMahon to speak to and move motion S4M-01336.1. Mr McMahon, you have a generous 10 minutes.14:52

Michael McMahon (Uddingston and Bellshill) (Lab) Lab

Thank you, Presiding Officer.I thank the cabinet secretary for bringing the debate to Parliament this afternoon, but I do so with a sense of déjà vu. Last we...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

I note the point that Michael McMahon is making, but I wonder whether anyone is guaranteed funding at this time. Surely, when the budget has been cut so seve...

Michael McMahon Lab

John Mason has to identify his priorities. On an issue as important as regeneration, we can say that some budget lines have to be protected more than others....

Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) SNP

Will the member give way?

Michael McMahon Lab

I would like to make some progress.With the budgets of some regeneration programmes being cut in half, we cannot allow the Scottish National Party Government...

The Presiding Officer NPA

I now call Alex Johnstone to speak to and move amendment S4M-01336.2. Mr Johnstone, you have a generous six minutes.15:01

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

It is always nice to be given a generous time limit. Generally, it means that I will have a wander around the subject and end up saying less than I would oth...

Kevin Stewart SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Alex Johnstone Con

Ah, go on. Why not?

Kevin Stewart SNP

I thank Mr Johnstone for giving way. Without pointing the finger of blame at anyone, I would say that it is at times such as this when we have to be a little...

Alex Johnstone Con

There are many examples of success and they were not all achieved under this Government. In Scotland’s history, regeneration has been an on-going theme for m...

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab) Lab

Will the member give way?

Alex Johnstone Con

Not at the moment—I want to develop my argument.In the past, I have criticised our tendency to be insular with regard to the communities that we represent, a...

Duncan McNeil Lab

I was wondering how long it would take the member to tell us to get on our bikes. Does the member accept that regeneration is not just about economic growth,...

Alex Johnstone Con

It is clear that, when they look back over history and at the trends that the member has highlighted, both the Conservative and Labour Parties will find it d...

The Presiding Officer NPA

We move to the open debate. I can offer members up to seven minutes for speeches. 15:10

Adam Ingram (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) SNP

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in the debate. I will focus my remarks on the need to regenerate the former coalfield communities in my constituen...

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab) Lab

I am also pleased to be able to take part in the debate and I welcome the minister’s comments about focusing on the hard-pressed communities that are less re...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

Mr McNeil, will you begin to wind up, please?

Duncan McNeil Lab

Right. Sorry, Presiding Officer.The urban regeneration company is but one part of our wider manifesto. We have great ambition to see the renewables industry ...

Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) SNP

I thank the cabinet secretary for holding this debate.As a previous MSP for the Glasgow region and as the current MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, I, like my colleagu...