Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 17 September 2020
17 Sep 2020 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Employment Support
Back in April, the Scottish Government welcomed the introduction of the United Kingdom’s job retention scheme. The furlough scheme has maintained the viability of businesses and protected jobs in what has been a period unlike anything that we have experienced in our lifetimes.
As the economy opens gradually and safely, some have been able to return to their jobs, but the job retention scheme continues to support many. Although we welcome measures that have been taken by the UK Government, UK ministers should follow the lead of other European countries by extending the job retention scheme. Ending the furlough scheme prematurely runs the risk of pushing many businesses and employees into crisis.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on S5M-22731, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on employment support. I invite members who wish to speak in the debate to ...
The Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills (Jamie Hepburn)
SNP
Back in April, the Scottish Government welcomed the introduction of the United Kingdom’s job retention scheme. The furlough scheme has maintained the viabili...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
If Murdo Fraser can explain why that is a sensible thing to do, I will happily give way.
Murdo Fraser
Con
I am grateful to the minister for giving way so early in his speech. At this early stage, I wanted him to set out on the record that the UK furlough scheme h...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I am happy to concede that the UK furlough scheme has been an excellent initiative. That might be why I am here urging the UK Government to extend such a sen...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
I support the motion and the minister’s contribution so far. Back in June, the Parliament agreed to set out in financial terms the total sum of what the bene...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Just yesterday, as I have alluded to, the chief economic adviser published a full assessment of the benefits of the introduction of the furlough scheme. I re...
Willie Rennie
LD
Will the minister gave way?
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I am afraid not, Mr Rennie. I am happy to give way in closing. In calling for the UK Government to extend the furlough scheme, I recognise the role that thi...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
How many young people will the £60 million youth guarantee scheme provide for?
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
The fundamental principle of the scheme is to guarantee every young person in Scotland the chance to get employment, education or training. I am not suggesti...
Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
No one should be under the illusion that we face anything less than a full-blown jobs crisis. The latest figures show that Scotland now has the highest unemp...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Maurice Golden for taking an intervention. I have just one point to make. Last week, in a debate in the House of Commons, the Chief Secretary to the ...
Maurice Golden
Con
I thank George Adam for that intervention. If we listen to the SNP, the Scottish Government paper “COVID-19: Analysis of Extending the Coronavirus Job Reten...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Will the member give way?
Maurice Golden
Con
I am developing the theme. Spending more increases debt, potentially decreases the credit rating of the UK, will increase the cost of borrowing and risk stag...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Maurice Golden recognises that we are not calling for the scheme to be extended for time without end, but are asking for a sensible extension to support peop...
Maurice Golden
Con
The minister should understand the wider economic impact and—as I have mentioned—with regard to increasing borrowing, the risk to the overall deficit. Those ...
Maurice Golden
Con
I am going to make progress. I also respect the minister’s and the cabinet secretary’s views on the furlough scheme. If they had listened to SNP back benche...
Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Maurice Golden
Con
I take it that I do not have extra time, Presiding Officer.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I will give you extra time for interventions
Keith Brown
SNP
I thank Maurice Golden for giving way. Does he agree with the Resolution Foundation, which has said that the job retention bonus “will not make a major diff...
Maurice Golden
Con
Keith Brown, who during his tenure as minister presided over a disastrous economic strategy for Scotland, has a hard neck to try to lecture me on economics. ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Do you wish to give way, Mr Golden?
Maurice Golden
Con
No, I am going to make progress. More than 2,600 firms have received support worth almost £600 million from the coronavirus business interruption loan schem...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to discuss the support that is needed to help employers retain jobs across the UK and, where that is not possible, to help people w...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
If people approach us and let us know about things, we might consider co-operating with them.
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I look forward—