Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16595, in the name of Kate Forbes, on increasing investment in Scotland. I invite all members who wish to...

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes) SNP

Increasing investment across the Scottish economy is a defining challenge for our times. For many years, persistently low levels of investment in Scottish bu...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

Does the cabinet secretary agree that the regulatory framework that is set by the Scottish Government is absolutely essential with regard to the signals that...

Kate Forbes SNP

I agree with the principle that the regulatory and policy environment is critical in giving investors certainty. I am in no doubt that investors have no obli...

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) SNP

Hear, hear.

Kate Forbes SNP

I hear cries of delight at that from Mr Gibson, who is sitting behind me. Two weeks ago, Highlands and Islands Enterprise announced £5 million for the Scapa ...

Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

The Deputy First Minister might note that other countries have a model by which they take strategic equity investments in key firms to secure them for the lo...

Kate Forbes SNP

We look to our enterprise agencies and the bank to invest in high-growth-potential companies in the most appropriate way. A range of options is available to ...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests. I derive some income from a private rented property and I have received hospitality from ...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

Will the member take an intervention?

Murdo Fraser Con

Let me finish this point and then I will give way. Those infrastructure projects are absolutely vital in terms of their ability to expand their businesses.

Daniel Johnson Lab

Will Murdo Fraser reflect that it is not just about getting goods to market but about integrating supply chains? The whisky coming down the A9 will very ofte...

Lorna Slater (Lothian) (Green) Green

Will the member take an intervention?

Murdo Fraser Con

Oh my goodness. They are coming from all sides, Presiding Officer. I agree with Mr Johnson. Let us hear what Lorna Slater has to say, which might not be so ...

Lorna Slater Green

We all want infrastructure so that we can move goods and people around the country, but there is no particular reason why those goods could not be moved by r...

Murdo Fraser Con

I simply disagree with Lorna Slater on that last point, but I agree that, where there is the capacity to move goods by rail, we should take that opportunity....

Kate Forbes SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Murdo Fraser Con

Yes, if she will tell me what will happen on that point.

Kate Forbes SNP

I will just make a comment. The member talked about our motion being too self-congratulatory. He is anything but congratulatory about the strengths of the Sc...

Murdo Fraser Con

I am pleased that the Deputy First Minister has raised the EY survey. I read a very interesting quote from Ally Scott, who is the managing partner of EY Scot...

Lorna Slater Green

Will the member take an intervention?

Murdo Fraser Con

No, I need to make some progress. According to experts in the world of finance and property, we have lost more than £3 billion of investment that could have...

Kate Forbes SNP

Be nice.

Murdo Fraser Con

I am being invited by the Deputy First Minister to be nice, but I am simply encouraging her to make a few minor tweaks to policy. Money would flow into Scotl...

Paul Sweeney Lab

Will the member take an intervention?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

The member is bringing his remarks to a close.

Murdo Fraser Con

My apologies, Mr Sweeney. There are investors who are prepared to fund a replacement of Torness. It is only the short-sighted policies of this Government th...

The Acting Minister for Climate Action (Alasdair Allan) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

The member is about to conclude.

Murdo Fraser Con

Investment will come when there is an attractive regulatory and tax environment. As we saw in the budget that was passed by Parliament on Tuesday, creating s...