Meeting of the Parliament 08 January 2014
Mr Scott will be aware of the keen interest that ministers take in the issues that affect industrial relations and their impact on the economy, as we demonstrated in the situation in Grangemouth in just the past few weeks, and he will appreciate that ministers will be prepared to do all that we can to bring parties together in all industrial disputes. The primary opportunity to resolve the issues is the direct dialogue between management and the workforce. Ministers will certainly do everything that we possibly can to assist in that respect. If Mr Scott, as a local MSP, has a particular perspective, I will of course be very happy to hear that and to take that forward in any way that we can.
Mr Scott makes an important point about the significance of good, strong and positive employment relations in our economy to ensure that there is the maximum positive benefit for the development of the Scottish economy—that lies at the heart of ministers’ objectives in this respect.
As we embark on an important year of political discussion in Scotland, when there is such a concentration on the points of dispute and debate, it is worth looking at some of the areas that are broadly agreed between both sides of the constitutional argument. We agree that Scotland could be a successful independent country and we agree that devolution and the transfer of decision-making powers from Westminster to Scotland has brought major benefits to people who live in Scotland. The improvements in economic performance since devolution show what can be achieved even with limited economic self-determination.
For example, in 1999, Scotland’s onshore output per head was the fifth highest of the 12 countries and regions of the United Kingdom. By 2012, it had risen to be the third highest behind only London and the south-east. At the time of devolution, Scotland had a lower employment rate and a higher unemployment rate compared with the UK, but our employment rate is now higher and our unemployment rate lower. The lesson that I take from those examples is that, where we are able to exercise self-determination here in Scotland and to take decisions that affect the circumstances and conditions of the Scottish economy, we take wise and beneficial decisions that lead to sustained improvement in our long-term prospects. That should be at the heart of the debate that we face in relation to the referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future and the whole question of vesting responsibility here in Scotland, where we can take a set of decisions that are appropriate and necessary for the economic conditions here.
In the debate today, there will be much discussion of the nature of the economic recovery. The Conservative amendment invites us to applaud the United Kingdom Government for the steps that it has taken in relation to economic policy.