Chamber
Plenary, 01 Feb 2001
01 Feb 2001 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Strategy for Enterprise
A debate entitled "Strategy for Enterprise" sounds hopeful, but the beguiling title is somewhat misleading when we read the motion, which
"notes the publication of A Smart, Successful Scotland: Ambitions for the Enterprise Networks".
Although ambitions for the enterprise networks are laudable and are certainly supported by the Conservatives, they are not the whole story. The Conservative party not only established Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the local enterprise companies, but, in 1999, was the first political party in Scotland to call for a radical review of the whole enterprise network. The First Minister, who was then the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, derided that call. However, within days of rejecting that call, Mr McLeish had executed a U-turn, supporting a radical reappraisal of the enterprise network—perhaps that was when he began flexing his U-turn muscles in preparation for the future.
The further grand language of the motion suggests that the document is the
"first ever comprehensive policy statement of what government expects from the networks".
That is a rather extravagant claim. As I indicated, it was a Conservative Government that set up the enterprise network and gave clear direction as to why the Scottish Development Agency was obsolete, how the new enterprise network was to operate and what it was intended to achieve. To put matters into perspective, the minister is not quite the innovatrix and the motion is not quite the innovation that the Executive would have us believe.
A strategy for enterprise—worthy though a radical reassessment of the enterprise network may be—is not and never can be the sole consideration for what contributes to a strong enterprise economy. That is why my colleague David Davidson lodged the Conservative amendment.
Before an enterprise network can address anything, either collectively or through its component parts, certain ground rules must be in place. First, there must be a stable economy with a low taxation regime. I remind the minister that, since 1997, the tax burden has risen from 35.2 per cent of national income to 37.4 per cent in 2000. Since 1997, the business rate poundage has been 45.6 in Scotland and 41.2 in England.
Secondly, there must be a climate in which entrepreneurs can focus on business and not be distracted by, oppressed by, and in many cases overwhelmed by, the infuriating and irksome bureaucracy that currently clogs up our factories and offices. I remind the minister of the comment of Mr Jeremy Peat of the Royal Bank of Scotland, who called for "a bonfire of regulations".
"notes the publication of A Smart, Successful Scotland: Ambitions for the Enterprise Networks".
Although ambitions for the enterprise networks are laudable and are certainly supported by the Conservatives, they are not the whole story. The Conservative party not only established Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the local enterprise companies, but, in 1999, was the first political party in Scotland to call for a radical review of the whole enterprise network. The First Minister, who was then the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, derided that call. However, within days of rejecting that call, Mr McLeish had executed a U-turn, supporting a radical reappraisal of the enterprise network—perhaps that was when he began flexing his U-turn muscles in preparation for the future.
The further grand language of the motion suggests that the document is the
"first ever comprehensive policy statement of what government expects from the networks".
That is a rather extravagant claim. As I indicated, it was a Conservative Government that set up the enterprise network and gave clear direction as to why the Scottish Development Agency was obsolete, how the new enterprise network was to operate and what it was intended to achieve. To put matters into perspective, the minister is not quite the innovatrix and the motion is not quite the innovation that the Executive would have us believe.
A strategy for enterprise—worthy though a radical reassessment of the enterprise network may be—is not and never can be the sole consideration for what contributes to a strong enterprise economy. That is why my colleague David Davidson lodged the Conservative amendment.
Before an enterprise network can address anything, either collectively or through its component parts, certain ground rules must be in place. First, there must be a stable economy with a low taxation regime. I remind the minister that, since 1997, the tax burden has risen from 35.2 per cent of national income to 37.4 per cent in 2000. Since 1997, the business rate poundage has been 45.6 in Scotland and 41.2 in England.
Secondly, there must be a climate in which entrepreneurs can focus on business and not be distracted by, oppressed by, and in many cases overwhelmed by, the infuriating and irksome bureaucracy that currently clogs up our factories and offices. I remind the minister of the comment of Mr Jeremy Peat of the Royal Bank of Scotland, who called for "a bonfire of regulations".
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S1M-1610, in the name of Wendy Alexander, on the strategy for enterprise, and on two amendments to that motio...
The Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Ms Wendy Alexander):
Lab
I am delighted to outline the key points of "A Smart, Successful Scotland: Ambitions for the Enterprise Networks", which I launched on Tuesday. That document...
Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
Will the minister give way?
Ms Alexander:
Lab
I will take an intervention in a moment.For too long, skills and learning have been the poor relations in the enterprise networks. The spirit of the Scottish...
Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
The minister talks about bringing youth unemployment down. Does she still stick to the answer that she gave me in a recent debate, when she said that a 13-we...
Ms Alexander:
Lab
Nobody ever asked me whether a 13-week job is sustainable. I was asked whether the new deal is effective and I indicated the number of people who are getting...
Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
The report that was published by the Rural Development Committee earlier this week—"Report on the Impact of Changing Employment Patterns in Rural Scotland"—r...
Ms Alexander:
Lab
We said in the document that we published this week that we will adopt a whole new approach to the social economy. We will shortly announce our plans and I w...
Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
It is rather surprising to be responding to a Labour speech on an Executive glossy brochure that posed more questions for the SNP than on the matters that we...
Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con):
Con
A debate entitled "Strategy for Enterprise" sounds hopeful, but the beguiling title is somewhat misleading when we read the motion, which "notes the publicat...
Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
We are having difficulty hearing what Miss Goldie is saying.I am sure that Miss Goldie will come to it—at least I hope she will: what bureaucracy is meant by...
Miss Goldie:
Con
There are many irksome regulations affecting business, some of which are unnecessary administrative burdens that could be removed. If Mr Rumbles is asking sp...
Mr Rumbles:
LD
Will the member give way?
Miss Goldie:
Con
I am sorry, but I am conscious of time, and I have tried to deal with the intervention.The other essential ingredient for a good enterprise climate and econo...
George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD):
LD
I welcome the publication of the strategy document, which is one of many on the subject over the past 18 to 20 months. It highlights clearly the challenges t...
Fiona McLeod:
SNP
Will the member give way?
George Lyon:
LD
Certainly.
Fiona McLeod:
SNP
Does the member agree that when the south-east of England has decided that it is vital for its economy to get connected to the interconnector, and has gone a...
George Lyon:
LD
No. We received clear evidence that there is already a huge bandwidth capability across the Atlantic. The key issue is whether we should access that through ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
I call Alex Neil, convener of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee.
Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I will try to put into perspective what we are debating, which is—in the jargon—microeconomic policy in Scotland. However, the overall level of activity in t...
Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab):
Lab
In this, my first speech in the chamber, I support the Labour-led Executive's motion and the strategy outlined in the document "A Smart, Successful Scotland:...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
That was a perfect three minutes and 59 seconds. Thank you, Mr Butler.
David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con):
Con
I do not commit myself to achieving a similarly perfect time for my speech, Presiding Officer.I knew that "A Smart, Successful Scotland: Ambitions for the En...
Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab):
Lab
First, I welcome some of Alex Neil's comments about the importance of the new universities in carrying this agenda forward. As someone who worked in a new un...
Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I should begin by congratulating the Scottish Executive and Wendy Alexander—who, it would appear, has just joined the Tories—on her contribution to encouragi...
Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
Bill Butler mentioned the Labour-led Executive. As Bill is relatively new to the chamber, I should point out to him—if he is listening—that the Executive is ...
David Mundell:
Con
Will the member give way?
Mr Rumbles:
LD
Give me a minute to start—I have been speaking for only 25 seconds.
David Mundell:
Con
On the basis of recent evidence, is not the Executive led by Mr Rumbles?