Chamber
Plenary, 22 Mar 2007
22 Mar 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Manufacturing
Enterprise, Lifelong Learning and Transport
I do indeed and I note that in the same period to which I referred, businesses in the Fife area accepted 72 offers of RSA totalling more than £20 million. Those offers relate to projects that aim to create or safeguard more than 3,300 jobs, which is a significant contribution to the Fife economy. Of course, RSA makes an important contribution to the creation and safeguarding of jobs across Scotland.
I believe that it is folly on the part of our political opponents to level criticism at the scheme in the manner in which they do. The only people who gain from that are our competitors in places such as Ireland, who would welcome with open arms some of the inward investment that would be diverted from these shores to other parts of the country if our opponents' advice were to be followed.
I believe that it is folly on the part of our political opponents to level criticism at the scheme in the manner in which they do. The only people who gain from that are our competitors in places such as Ireland, who would welcome with open arms some of the inward investment that would be diverted from these shores to other parts of the country if our opponents' advice were to be followed.
In the same item of business
4. Christine May (Central Fife) (Lab):
Lab
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has in place to support manufacturing industry, what the value is of such support and how many jobs have been ...
The Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Allan Wilson):
Lab
Scottish ministers provide a wide range of support to manufacturing companies in Scotland. That includes financial support, innovation grants, practical supp...
Christine May:
Lab
It is often suggested, particularly by the Scottish National Party, that RSA and other grants are exploited by rapacious foreign companies, which grab a gran...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
I do indeed and I note that in the same period to which I referred, businesses in the Fife area accepted 72 offers of RSA totalling more than £20 million. Th...
Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
I cannot help but wish that, when I was an IBM salesman, the minister had been my manager because he seems to be able only to record gains and never to accou...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
It would be helpful if the official Opposition, too, gave a balanced account of the performance of the Scottish economy in these and other debates. The decli...