Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-17352, in the name of Kate Forbes, on supporting Scottish industry during turbulent economic times. I wo...

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

I will begin by saying that it is a matter of deep regret that Petroineos has closed the Grangemouth refinery. My immediate thoughts—and I am sure that I spe...

Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

I agree with what the Deputy First Minister is saying, but does she share my concern and the concern of many members of this Parliament that we learned this ...

Kate Forbes SNP

I heard Mr Kerr’s point of order earlier. The point with which I agree the most is that having the workforce learn of any such decision through the media doe...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

I am grateful to the Deputy First Minister for giving way and for her answer to Stephen Kerr, but will she clarify whether the Government was given any warni...

Kate Forbes SNP

With regard to the finer points of timescales, the only reason why I cannot be definitive is that I was in Cabinet this morning and I, too, learned of the de...

Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) SNP

I know that the Government is aware of a growing manufacturing company, Nova Innovation, which is a leading tidal developer with a manufacturing site in Leit...

Kate Forbes SNP

I am more than happy to meet with Ben Macpherson and Nova Innovation, which is exactly the kind of business that we want to support in Scotland, particularly...

Stephen Kerr Con

Will the Deputy First Minister give way?

Kate Forbes SNP

I love a proper debate, so I will be delighted to take another intervention.

Stephen Kerr Con

I thank the Deputy First Minister for being generous in taking interventions. There are issues that should probably be addressed in a ministerial statement o...

Kate Forbes SNP

Those are very good questions. Subject to the decision of the Parliamentary Bureau, I would be more than happy to come back to the Parliament with a statemen...

Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) SNP

Will the Deputy First Minister take an intervention?

Kate Forbes SNP

Who could resist taking an intervention from Mr Ewing as well?

Fergus Ewing SNP

I entirely share the Deputy First Minister’s sentiment, but does she agree that the biggest obstacle and greatest challenge that industry faces, whether in S...

Kate Forbes SNP

Once again, on that particular issue, I could not agree more. Being clear about the root causes of the issues is vital if we want to support Scotland’s manuf...

Daniel Johnson Lab

Will the Deputy First Minister give way?

Kate Forbes SNP

Presiding Officer, will you remind me how much time I have?

The Presiding Officer NPA

Fifteen minutes.

Kate Forbes SNP

Oh, wonderful. I give way to Daniel Johnson.

Daniel Johnson Lab

Thank you, Deputy First Minister—I will be brief. Despite today’s tragic announcements, does the Deputy First Minister accept that the UK Labour Government c...

Kate Forbes SNP

I accept that the UK Government’s engagement was good from the very beginning, but my concern is that, if we compare it with the action that it took in relat...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

Thank you, Deputy First Minister. Before I call the next speaker, I alert members to the fact that we have no time in hand and that, therefore, interventions...

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

I very much welcome this afternoon’s debate on supporting Scottish industry. I also welcome my good friend Jamie Greene to his new position as the economy le...

Daniel Johnson Lab

I agree with Murdo Fraser on the fundamental importance of energy costs for the industrial strategy, but does he accept that the previous Tory Government’s s...

Murdo Fraser Con

I am afraid that the member is wrong, and I will come on to explain why in just a moment.

Daniel Johnson Lab

I look forward to that.

Murdo Fraser Con

Thank you. On the point about steel, just last week, I read in the media that the current UK Government is considering importing coal to support our steel i...

Fergus Ewing SNP

On that point, does Mr Fraser agree that, since the UK produces 1 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions and Scotland produces one tenth of that, we are re...

Murdo Fraser Con

I thank Mr Ewing for that intervention. I struggle to disagree with much of anything that he has said. He makes his points very well. To come back to my bas...