Chamber
Plenary, 01 Feb 2001
01 Feb 2001 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Strategy for Enterprise
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 will be happy to talk to the member about them when we do.
I hope that the enterprise networks will learn to be good partners—with careers Scotland, with further and higher education institutions, with Scottish Homes, with local authorities, with businesses and with trade unions.
I will use my final couple of minutes to talk seriously about the amendments to the motion. The SNP amendment calls for three things. First, it calls for the Executive to bring forward "detailed proposals" for implementing our plans. We have set out our priorities. My question to the SNP—which Kenny MacAskill may answer—is this: does the SNP still call for the abolition of the boards of Scottish Enterprise and HIE, as was its policy before the last election? Does it want us to dispense with the services of Jim Hunter, Ian Robinson, Ian Vallence, Campbell Christie and others, who are involved in ensuring that the Scottish economy flourishes and that the enterprise networks play their part?
The second thing that the SNP asks us to do is consider the possibility of a dedicated telehouse for Scotland. I am happy to confirm that, for some months now, that possibility has been studied by Scottish Enterprise. We expect a business case to be presented by Easter.
The third thing the SNP asks is for me to promise broadband for all of Scotland. I ask Kenny MacAskill what that means. Does it mean broadband for every town, every business or every home? What would be the cost of such a commitment? As I have said, the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee is considering how we can have ubiquitous broadband capability, with the right technology, across Scotland. That is the way forward, but if Mr MacAskill would clarify whether he is talking about every town, business or home, and if he would tell us the cost, I would be grateful.
The Tory amendment calls on us to stimulate enterprise
"by reducing the bureaucracy which is currently stifling entrepreneurship".
Can the Tories please confirm whether that means that they support the proposals that Mr Portillo, the shadow chancellor, announced last week? When asked to find £8 billion of tax cuts, his answer included £1 billion from regional schemes, £300 million from trade and industry and £400 million from the new deal. I do not think that the way to cut out bureaucracy is to cut our enterprise networks.
I invite members to consider the document—"A Smart, Successful Scotland: Ambitions for the Enterprise Networks"—that they have before them. I commend it to Parliament and I urge members, during the debate, to concentrate on what the enterprise networks should do, rather than simply use the debate as a platform for a constitutional argument that has been lost time and time again. In that co-operative spirit, I invite comments on the document and the ways in which we can support the activities of the enterprise networks.
I move,
That the Parliament notes the publication of A Smart, Successful Scotland: Ambitions for the Enterprise Networks, the first ever comprehensive policy statement of what government expects from the networks, which sets out the foundation for long-term and sustained improvement in economic performance for all of Scotland; welcomes the determination of the Scottish Executive to work with the networks on the challenges of raising productivity, encouraging entrepreneurship, raising skill levels and connecting Scotland globally, and notes the Executive's commitment in setting the vision and direction for the networks to improve their focus and effectiveness.
I hope that the enterprise networks will learn to be good partners—with careers Scotland, with further and higher education institutions, with Scottish Homes, with local authorities, with businesses and with trade unions.
I will use my final couple of minutes to talk seriously about the amendments to the motion. The SNP amendment calls for three things. First, it calls for the Executive to bring forward "detailed proposals" for implementing our plans. We have set out our priorities. My question to the SNP—which Kenny MacAskill may answer—is this: does the SNP still call for the abolition of the boards of Scottish Enterprise and HIE, as was its policy before the last election? Does it want us to dispense with the services of Jim Hunter, Ian Robinson, Ian Vallence, Campbell Christie and others, who are involved in ensuring that the Scottish economy flourishes and that the enterprise networks play their part?
The second thing that the SNP asks us to do is consider the possibility of a dedicated telehouse for Scotland. I am happy to confirm that, for some months now, that possibility has been studied by Scottish Enterprise. We expect a business case to be presented by Easter.
The third thing the SNP asks is for me to promise broadband for all of Scotland. I ask Kenny MacAskill what that means. Does it mean broadband for every town, every business or every home? What would be the cost of such a commitment? As I have said, the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee is considering how we can have ubiquitous broadband capability, with the right technology, across Scotland. That is the way forward, but if Mr MacAskill would clarify whether he is talking about every town, business or home, and if he would tell us the cost, I would be grateful.
The Tory amendment calls on us to stimulate enterprise
"by reducing the bureaucracy which is currently stifling entrepreneurship".
Can the Tories please confirm whether that means that they support the proposals that Mr Portillo, the shadow chancellor, announced last week? When asked to find £8 billion of tax cuts, his answer included £1 billion from regional schemes, £300 million from trade and industry and £400 million from the new deal. I do not think that the way to cut out bureaucracy is to cut our enterprise networks.
I invite members to consider the document—"A Smart, Successful Scotland: Ambitions for the Enterprise Networks"—that they have before them. I commend it to Parliament and I urge members, during the debate, to concentrate on what the enterprise networks should do, rather than simply use the debate as a platform for a constitutional argument that has been lost time and time again. In that co-operative spirit, I invite comments on the document and the ways in which we can support the activities of the enterprise networks.
I move,
That the Parliament notes the publication of A Smart, Successful Scotland: Ambitions for the Enterprise Networks, the first ever comprehensive policy statement of what government expects from the networks, which sets out the foundation for long-term and sustained improvement in economic performance for all of Scotland; welcomes the determination of the Scottish Executive to work with the networks on the challenges of raising productivity, encouraging entrepreneurship, raising skill levels and connecting Scotland globally, and notes the Executive's commitment in setting the vision and direction for the networks to improve their focus and effectiveness.
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?