Meeting of the Parliament 18 February 2026 [Draft]
ExxonMobil’s earlier than expected closure of the Fife ethylene plant remains a matter of deep disappointment. My thoughts remain with the workers who are directly affected by the decision.
Members will appreciate that the Government’s focus since the announcement was made has been firmly on ensuring that existing workers have a secure and prosperous future. We activated our partnership action for continuing employment, which provides bespoke skills development and employability support to those who face redundancy. We have also been engaging extensively with key stakeholders—in particular, union and workforce representatives—since the closure announcement, to ensure that targeted support is in place to mitigate the worst impact of the site closure.
In addition, Scottish Enterprise is engaging with the company to understand the land and the site’s current status, and is assessing any early interest from investors who may be able to deploy new projects at Mossmorran. That work is at an early stage, but it has moved at rapid pace. I am optimistic that we will see new industry at the Mossmorran site.
The motion calls on the Scottish and UK Governments to provide funding to support a just transition for the Fife ethylene plant workforce. I whole-heartedly endorse the sentiment that lies behind the motion. Members will be aware that the Scottish budget, which received cross-party support, commits to delivering a £9 million, three-year package of support to mitigate the impact of the plant’s closures. That includes £3 million in the next financial year to provide support to the workforce, and a further £3 million in the following year, 2027-28, and the third year, 2028-29, as we work to secure a sustainable future for the site.
However, I am very pleased to announce today that the Scottish Government will go further by accelerating the deployment of funding to mobilise a more immediate skills intervention at Mossmorran this month. We believe that Fife College, as the local skills provider, is best placed to deliver that support, and it will begin work to commence targeted training needs and analysis for the first tranche of redundant workers in the coming days and weeks. That critical first step will provide immediate support to eligible workers, while also informing what training provision can be put in place to support worker transition, as we continue to assess how best to deploy the committed funding next year and in subsequent years.
I also confirm that my officials are working collaboratively with ExxonMobil to understand how the Scottish Government can supplement its funding provision in the next financial year.