Meeting of the Parliament 26 February 2025
I do not have time.
The Greens will be living in a world in which we would see more Russian aggression on former satellite states and more unwarranted attacks on freedom and life, such as those that Israel experienced at the hands of Hamas.
When the Greens say that they stand with Ukraine, it means nothing unless they end their dogmatic and depressing campaign against the legitimate defence industry that is operating in Scotland today. If their issue is with how the hardware and technology could be used overseas, they should take their case to the UK export control joint unit, not to the young Scottish men and women who seek to forge engineering careers. I warn them that protests at careers fairs and outside Scottish factories of Leonardo UK or Raytheon UK mean only that the jobs that they support might go overseas to countries that do not have such tight export controls as we have.
The Scottish defence sector does not just ensure that the world is a safer place—it also contributes to our economic security and stability. The aerospace, defence, security and space sectors employ 35,000 people in Scotland, account for £3.2 billion to the economy, and deliver 1,500 much-needed apprenticeships. However, the signals that are being sent to the industry are far from positive or progressive.
I ask this question of ministers: who decreed that Scottish Enterprise will provide funding only to help firms to diversify towards non-military applications for their technology? Why will it not specifically support defence skills and jobs that could then be used in other areas?
We cannot afford to lose that sector. We must therefore work with the industry to ensure that the Scottish Government supports further and higher education and skills that could sustain the sector now and into the future. Scotland could, and should, be proud of its aerospace and defence industries and the many people who work in them.
It is sad that the Green Party has seen fit to introduce such a malign form of political debate into the Parliament.
I move amendment S6M-16571.1, to leave out from “with concern” to end and insert:
“that Scotland is home to a wide range of defence, aerospace and security companies that collectively play a vital role in supporting the UK in its endeavours to assist in its international duties to maintain peace, including via its membership of NATO; understands that the defence, aerospace and security sectors support more than 30,000 jobs, including 1,500 apprentices, and contribute £3.2 billion to Scotland’s economy; welcomes Scottish Enterprise funding that supports these vital sectors and the jobs and investment that they provide; reiterates Israel’s right to defend itself, and acknowledges that policy decisions regarding the arms trade are reserved to the UK Parliament.”
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.