Meeting of the Parliament 11 December 2025
It is a long overdue step in the right direction, as Bob Doris mentioned. Let me be clear: the UK Government can and must go further, just as it has in other parts of the United Kingdom. We have, for some time, been pressing the UK Government to match the Scottish Government’s commitment of £25 million via the Grangemouth just transition fund to support initiatives at Grangemouth—[Interruption.]
Despite noises off from the Labour benches, it is a positive thing. I am having a collaborative and constructive dialogue with UK Government ministers in the sector, and there is an understanding there—[Interruption.]
I say to Mr Johnson that it is not something to witter on and be bitter about; it is an example of both Governments working together—it is a good thing.
However, we have also said that the national wealth fund commitment needs to be enacted. Again, I have listening ears in that regard, but I think that members will share my frustration that the national wealth fund has been a little bit too restrictive in getting that funding deployed. We await the detail of what that will mean in practice for those who live and work at Grangemouth.
I have to say that, although the collaboration has been taken forward very well by both Governments, we need to see an end to the energy profits levy, because that is the source of the problem in respect of many of the jobs that are being lost in the energy industry and beyond.