Meeting of the Parliament 19 June 2024
I agree with the broad sentiment. I suspect that there might be some points of disagreement implied, but I will acknowledge two things. First, transition is a necessity. We have 10 per cent of the extractable resource left in the ground, so, whatever we do, we need to transition. Secondly, critically, if we are to realise some of our strategic potential in floating offshore wind and carbon capture and storage, the expertise and engineering that are required will come from the oil and gas sector, because those are the people who know how to do that stuff. I absolutely agree that we cannot have a cliff edge. We need those jobs, skills and assets, so the transition must be a partnership between the Government and the people who have that expertise.
I will make some progress. I have outlined why growth matters, and I go back to the point about eradicating poverty and improving equality. I know that my colleagues Alex Rowley and Foysol Choudhury will continue on how we can expand opportunity and how growth should be used to expand opportunities for all.
In relation to our amendment, if we are to realise those opportunities, we need to understand our headwinds. What are the risks and threats? I fear that, sometimes, when the Government approaches such topics, it wants to circumvent that aspect. We have already had a little bit of that. The Government is very keen to highlight figures or metrics that show where it has succeeded, but it is fairly unwilling to look at either the broader context or the metrics that point in the opposite direction.
That is why I come back to GDP per head. The simple fact is that, in the first decade of this new millennium, the gap in GDP per head between the UK and Scotland shrank from about 10 per cent to about 5 per cent, but, in the subsequent decade, it has increased. Whatever other metrics one wants to use, that is the fundamental one that we must focus on, because that is a loss of opportunity and a loss of earning potential for people. Let us start with that.
We must also recognise that it is a lack of investment that is holding this country back. Again, the headline figures often obscure this, but, up until the previous quarter, we had seven quarters of decline using that same metric across the UK. The reason for that was poor levels of investment. We also need to look at factors such as entrepreneurial activity, because Scotland lacks entrepreneurial activity and company creation.
Most critically, we have unequal growth. The reality is that the vast bulk of growth in Scotland is generated from Scotland’s south-east. The output per hour worked in Edinburgh and the Lothians is 50 per cent higher than it is in other parts of Scotland, such as the west and Tayside. Why is that? I suggest that we look at those issues. What are the structural barriers? Where are the regional economic development strategies that should enable people to link up the opportunities that exist in other parts of Scotland with their potential, skills and talents and the places where they live?
How much more time do I have, Deputy Presiding Officer?