Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16667, in the name of Kate Forbes, on achieving a fair balance in the United Kingdom economy. I invite me...

The Minister for Business (Richard Lochhead) SNP

We are discussing the future of Scotland’s economy against a backdrop of international uncertainty. Right now, it can feel that the world is walking backward...

Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con) Con

I thank the minister for referring to the south of Scotland—particularly the south-west. Is he not aware that what businesses such as Stena Line really want...

Richard Lochhead SNP

Roads are, of course, important—all transport links are important. The Scottish Government is doing all that we can with our limited resources to push forwar...

Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I wonder whether the minister listened to the speech that the Prime Minister made in Glasgow just last weekend, when he announced £200 million of investment ...

Richard Lochhead SNP

I did, and I have already mentioned it in my speech and welcomed it. Of course, that was after a bit of a backlash from the Labour Party’s member of the UK P...

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

It is going to be a long afternoon, given what we have just heard. However, I am pleased that we are having another economy debate—the second in a week. I ho...

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

Will the member give way?

Murdo Fraser Con

Of course.

Kate Forbes SNP

I recognise that the member will want to set out what his Government did. I start by commending it for announcing the supercomputer for the University of Edi...

Murdo Fraser Con

Yes—I agree with the Deputy First Minister on that point. A range of other projects were proposed by the previous Conservative Government, not least project...

Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

It was with genuine disappointment that I read the motion that we have been asked to discuss. That said, I agreed with almost every word in the first half of...

Richard Lochhead SNP

I am pleased that the member agreed with 50 per cent of my speech—I would have been worried if he had agreed with 100 per cent of it. When he reflects on how...

Michael Marra Lab

I simply do not recognise that description of the chancellor’s approach, and I can set out exactly why that is the case. As the chancellor for the whole of t...

Craig Hoy Con

Will the member take an intervention?

Michael Marra Lab

No, thank you, sir. I will set that out in some detail. The investment that I have just mentioned will support up to 1,000 skilled jobs in the construction,...

Craig Hoy Con

Will Michael Marra take an intervention?

Michael Marra Lab

No thank you, sir. There is a further £1.4 billion for local growth projects—at least £200 million for specific Scottish towns, including £20 million for gr...

Lorna Slater (Lothian) (Green) Green

When it comes to the motion and the debate, if London is stripped out of the economic data, the performance report for the UK looks different. Certainly, a l...

Craig Hoy Con

Can the member explain the causal link between economic growth and violent crime?

Lorna Slater Green

The causal link is that a focus on economic growth, instead of on tackling inequality, results in crime. We know that societies that have gross inequality, s...

Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD) LD

The motion makes an important point about ensuring that investment does not unfairly focus on one area. I understand the sentiment that is contained in the m...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We move to the open debate. I advise members that one of the SNP speakers has had to pull out at the last minute in the light of illness. It has been agreed ...

Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) SNP

Scotland has extraordinary economic potential. We have been inventors in the past, we have innovated in oil and gas and we have key sectors such as renewable...

Craig Hoy Con

Is Mr Stewart aware that one of the engines of the London economy is the financial services sector? Will he therefore take the advice of Scottish Financial E...

Kevin Stewart SNP

Funnily enough, I was just going to come to the London financial sector. We have been promised that Scotland’s wealth flowing south to be invested in London ...

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

As we all know, throughout the centuries, Scotland has produced an army of great inventors whose boundless imagination and inspiration have set us apart from...

Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

I am disappointed that the Scottish Government chose to lodge the motion, which is based on a selection of recent UK Government announcements, and to play a ...

Kevin Stewart SNP

Will Mr Choudhury give way?

Foysol Choudhury Lab

I have a lot to get through. I repeat my remark that, if we want to have growth, we need investment in infrastructure, and the Scottish Government should sh...