Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-07643, in the name of Fergus Ewing, on enterprise networks. I call Fergus Ewing to speak to and move the ...

The Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism (Fergus Ewing) SNP

I warmly welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth’s announcement on the budget. As he outlined, the Government continues ...

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD) LD

While the minister is on the subject of statistics, one statistic that his Government is using at the moment is that 75 per cent of people in the Highlands a...

Fergus Ewing SNP

Tavish Scott raises a significant point that takes up a lot of time and consideration. I recently met with the Highlands and Islands Enterprise team that is ...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

I am grateful to the minister for giving way. We heard some interesting evidence this morning at the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee—I am referring not...

Fergus Ewing SNP

That is a perfectly valid point, and I am keen—or at least willing—to look at the process again. Plainly, any gatekeeper process must be fixed and certain; i...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

Minister, you are approaching your last minute.

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Will the minister take an intervention?

Fergus Ewing SNP

Sorry, I have oodles—to use a non-ministerial technical expression—of my speech left.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I am afraid that we are rather tight for time. You are now in your last minute.

Fergus Ewing SNP

Looking north, I should point out that, over the past five years, Highlands and Islands Enterprise has built a portfolio of accounts comprising 596 business ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I call Jenny Marra to speak to and move amendment S4M-07643.1. Ms Marra, you have a maximum of nine minutes.15:52

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Like the minister, I put on record the Labour Party’s support for the work of Scottish Enterprise and all our enterprise networks in developing Scotland’s bu...

Maureen Watt (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP

What the member has just suggested was very much a feature under the Labour/Liberal Scottish Executive, when Scottish Enterprise had no clear direction. Sinc...

Jenny Marra Lab

I had hoped to strike a conciliatory note—

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Order, please. We cannot hear the member.

Jenny Marra Lab

I was about to go on to propose a review of the agencies. Since 1999, Scottish Enterprise has operated effectively, but it has perhaps not always been as eff...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Excuse me, Ms Marra, but the conversations that are taking place in the chamber, particularly those behind you, must cease.

Jenny Marra Lab

We need to examine the impact that the reforms have had on workers and business and we believe that now is the right time for a pulse-check.As well as noting...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

You have nine minutes, but I can give you a few more seconds for the interruption.

Jenny Marra Lab

Thank you.The Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee report examined our enterprise networks as a whole, the gaps in partnership working and the proactive ste...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

It was in 2007 that I previously held the economy and enterprise brief for my party, but it is almost as if nothing has changed in the interim. Here we are, ...

Fergus Ewing SNP

I have been aware of Mr Fraser’s concerns about the matter since yesterday, when his amendment was lodged. I would be more than happy to facilitate a meeting...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

You are now in your final 30 seconds.

Murdo Fraser Con

I am grateful to the minister for that helpful offer, and I look forward to engaging directly with Scottish Enterprise.I raised the issue directly with Lena ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

We come to the open debate. Speeches should be of a maximum of six minutes, because we are very tight for time.16:07

Mike MacKenzie (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP

On the afternoon of the publication of the draft budget, it is entirely appropriate for us to debate a motion on the enterprise networks. It is helpful, I th...

Murdo Fraser Con

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I understood that the topic for debate was Scotland’s enterprise networks, on which we have a motion and amendments b...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Members should try to stick to the terms of the debate. If any member wishes to intervene on another member, they can ask to do so. Mr MacKenzie, please cont...

Mike MacKenzie SNP

Think how much better our renewables industry could be performing if George Osborne was not dithering over energy market reform, causing huge uncertainty and...