Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 22 March 2016
22 Mar 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Topical Question Time
Dalzell and Clydebridge Steel Plants (Update on Negotiations)
I will try not to run out of breath, Presiding Officer.
The minister may know that I visited BRC in Newhouse on Monday and saw the preparation of the steel for the Aberdeen western peripheral route. That significant contract was awarded to BRC recently despite a bit of scaremongering that it was going to be awarded outwith Europe. Does the minister agree that we all need to get behind the steel industry in Lanarkshire and that part of that involves recognising that the Government’s significant efforts are far from being a “token gesture”, as they were described earlier?
In the same item of business
2. John Pentland (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab)
Lab
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on negotiations to save the steel plants at Dalzell and Clydebridge. (S4T-01367)
The Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism (Fergus Ewing)
SNP
The Scottish steel task force is doing everything within the power of the Scottish Government and involved partners to secure a viable future for the steel p...
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
John Pentland; I am sorry—please continue, minister.
Fergus Ewing
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I assure members that we are leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to achieve our primary objective of securing an alternat...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I apologise for interrupting you, minister. You should not have stopped for breath.
John Pentland
Lab
I thank the minister for that reply. I am sure that he will not be surprised to hear that I consider that getting people back into their jobs is the priority...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
I will take very seriously the Presiding Officer’s warning about breathing. Laughter. I absolutely agree that the priority for all of us across the Parliame...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Clare Adamson. Interruption. I am sorry. Mr Pentland, do you want in again?
John Pentland
Lab
No. I am quite happy with that answer—especially considering that the minister might be running out of breath.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Clare Adamson.
Clare Adamson (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I will try not to run out of breath, Presiding Officer. The minister may know that I visited BRC in Newhouse on Monday and saw the preparation of the steel ...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
I recognise that Clare Adamson has done a power of work on these matters, particularly in relation to procurement, including attending meetings in Brussels t...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Business rates relief has been reinstated for a limited period for the two plants on the basis of them being derelict or mothballed industrial buildings. How...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
The key phrase there is “other than”, because I am afraid that the import of the state aid rules is to restrict to a certain sum the maximum total aid that c...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
Many thanks. That concludes topical questions for this day and indeed this session.