Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 01 September 2020
01 Sep 2020 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Logan Review (Technology Sector)
I thank the cabinet secretary for her statement, and for advance sight of it. I agree with her about the value of the excellent report by Mark Logan. It contains some very good ideas about how to sustain and grow a vital sector in which Scotland already has a strong track record.
In particular, I welcome the recommendations on how to better attract investment in new start-up companies. That has been a challenge for as long as I can remember our having economic debates in the Parliament, which is quite a long time. The question how we better support and nurture our home-grown talent has always been a feature.
On education, according to the latest statistics, the number of computing science students in our high schools fell between 2017 and 2018, from 4,476 to 4,099. More worryingly, however, over a much longer period—the 10 years from 2008 to 2018—the number of computing science teachers fell by nearly 25 per cent, from 766 to 595. What practical steps are being taken to reverse that concerning trend in our schools?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Lewis Macdonald)
Lab
The next item of business is a statement by Kate Forbes on the Logan review in the technology sector. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance will take questions a...
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance (Kate Forbes)
SNP
Coronavirus is, first and foremost, a crisis of public health, but it has also emerged as the defining economic challenge of our time. Its impact is already ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Thank you very much, cabinet secretary. The cabinet secretary will take questions on issues raised in her statement. I intend to allow about 20 minutes for ...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I thank the cabinet secretary for her statement, and for advance sight of it. I agree with her about the value of the excellent report by Mark Logan. It cont...
Kate Forbes
SNP
In the spirit in which they were asked, I thank the member for both questions. On the value of the report, Murdo Fraser talked about the need to attract inv...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I call Rhoda Grant, to be followed by Kenneth Gibson. It seems that we do not have any sound from Rhoda Grant. We will take Kenneth Gibson next, and come ba...
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the cabinet secretary’s statement. The Logan review makes it clear that Scotland’s high-tech start-ups must meet the standards of global best pract...
Kate Forbes
SNP
I agree with Kenneth Gibson’s analysis that we do not want simply to nurture high-tech companies that then leave and relocate. Covid-19 has shown us that bus...
Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Earlier today, the First Minister said that the Logan review would be implemented in full. Recommendation 18 of the review is for a reduction in intercity ra...
Kate Forbes
SNP
As I said in my statement, we have accepted Mark Logan’s analysis and the need to implement the recommendations. With regard to the substance of those recomm...
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
Scotland has a world-beating reputation for leading in computing science and technology. Does the cabinet secretary agree that collaboration between schools ...
Kate Forbes
SNP
Yes, and that is highlighted in this independent report. That goes to the question that Murdo Fraser asked, because inspiring teaching is key to engaging chi...
Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the report and the cabinet secretary’s statement. For many years, employers have told me that it is difficult to get information and communications...
Kate Forbes
SNP
Alex Rowley is spot on in talking about the digital divide, which is why it was very appropriate that, earlier today, when she set out the programme for gove...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
Technology has immense potential to help us to tackle the climate emergency, so I was a little surprised that the report includes only two throwaway referenc...
Kate Forbes
SNP
I agree with Patrick Harvie that high-tech growth is a very effective means of delivering on our low carbon aspirations. I take his point that that never hap...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, welcome the report. What the cabinet secretary said about the gender imbalance in tech education is true, but the imbalance goes further than that. T...
Kate Forbes
SNP
As Rhoda Grant says, one of the recommendations in the report is to look at how we ensure a reduction in the gender gap, not only in terms of women going int...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
As people develop digital businesses, slow internet speeds are hampering opportunities for innovation and transformation, but the promise to deliver superfas...
Kate Forbes
SNP
I have visited very exciting tech businesses—some of the most exciting businesses that I have seen—in Beatrice Wishart’s constituency and, slightly further s...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the suggestion, on page 39 of the report, of “self-organised tech” meet-up points giving “free meeting space and resources”. That is clearly part...
Kate Forbes
SNP
The potential for job creation is enormous. We aim to support between 300 and 500 companies through the tech scalers programme, providing world-class trainin...
Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I, too, welcome the report, which is a good commercial guide for the Government to take forward. Does the cabinet secretary recognise that leaving the Europe...
Kate Forbes
SNP
The thing that would make the biggest difference in attracting international talent would be ensuring that people could access visas in the first place. As t...
Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
SNP
What plans does the Scottish Government have to support those who have an interest in pursuing a new career in technology and the growing digital sector in S...
Kate Forbes
SNP
On the second point, as a Highland representative, I am always keen to ensure that there is support and investment outside the main urban centres—that is one...
Tom Arthur (Renfrewshire South) (SNP)
SNP
Recommendation 16 of the review highlights that the introduction of a Scottish tech visa would be a highly desirable mechanism for attracting international t...
Kate Forbes
SNP
As is demonstrated in other countries, the tech visa has the potential to transform the talent pool that is available and ensure that we can grow. I will cer...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
That concludes questions on the statement.