Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 19 January 2012
19 Jan 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Agenda for Cities
Members will not be surprised to hear that my speech will focus on my home city, Dundee.
The opening statement by the cabinet secretary, the additional £2 million and the fact that there is a member of the Cabinet with a responsibility for cities demonstrate our SNP Government’s commitment to our cities. The strategy, which will be implemented in collaboration with our cities, is to be welcomed across the chamber.
It is important to recognise the good work that has been carried out by previous Administrations under the auspices of the cities growth fund which, although welcome, was restrictive in terms of what it could be used for. By rolling the cities growth fund into cities’ allocations, John Swinney removed the strings on how that money could be used that had been applied by previous Administrations. The cities growth fund did not show the results that might have been expected across Scotland, but Dundee was an exception in that regard. The use of the fund to pay for our central waterfront was an excellent example of how money can be used to benefit not only the city but the city region. That was the result of a cross-party approach that should be welcomed.
Statistics such as the fact that 67 per cent of Scotland’s gross value added is generated in the six city regions demonstrate the importance of our cities in driving forward the economy and, given the current difficult economic situation, it is more important than ever that we support our cities and optimise economic growth and job creation. The cabinet secretary talked about Scotland’s six cities working together and building on their combined strengths to provide sustainable economic growth and attract large-scale private sector investment.
I look forward to the number of our cities increasing to seven, and I fully support the fair city, Perth, in its bid to be awarded city status as part of the diamond jubilee celebrations. Perth is just 22 miles from Dundee and we share many economic, social and cultural links, which I hope will be strengthened over the coming years, regardless of the decision on Perth’s city status. I certainly support Perth in its campaign.
A prime example of how a city can help to invigorate a region is the Victoria and Albert museum project in Dundee and our central waterfront redevelopment. The central waterfront project is expected to create at least 1,000 jobs over 10 years, to generate more than £500 million of GVA for Scotland’s economy and to bring in an additional £270 million of private sector investment. Members will be pleased to hear that the project is moving forward. As we speak, preparatory work is under way on the Tay river bed for the foundations of the V&A, which will be the centrepiece of our new waterfront. Yesterday, the old walkways to Tayside house came down as part of the redevelopment of the area around the museum site, and we look forward to Tayside house being demolished in the near future.
We heard yesterday that the non-Government-funded aspect of the V&A project has received a boost—the funding campaign has announced that £5 million of private funding is expected to be in place by the end of the year. It is estimated that the V&A at Dundee will attract 500,000 people in its first year and 300,000 people a year thereafter, which it is clear will have a hugely positive impact on the city of Dundee, on Tayside and probably on Scotland as a whole.
Dundee currently has a strong economic base in the creative industries, such as the computer games industry, and it is a world leader in life sciences, but it has huge potential in another area that could result in a radical increase in the city’s economic output and skilled jobs base. This week, we had the announcement that one of the four enterprise zones that are to be created will be the low carbon/renewables east enterprise area, which will be formed by Dundee port in conjunction with the port of Leith.
Dundee port is already a key renewables site, and there is strong interest from manufacturing companies. The recent memorandum of understanding that was signed with Scottish and Southern Energy will ensure that Dundee is a key strategic location for the development of its technology. The creation of the enterprise zone will enable Dundee to offer incentives to attract private investors and to secure a great many good-quality engineering jobs and, of course, apprenticeships. People in Dundee are very proud of the way in which the city has moved forward with life sciences and video games, but there has been a feeling that its manufacturing base had been eroded over decades, so there is great excitement about the potential that the new renewables industry offers our city.
By working together, Dundee and Edinburgh can ensure that not just one city gets the benefit that enterprise zone status brings and that a hub is created that will be worth far more than would have been the case had the two areas worked separately.
The opening statement by the cabinet secretary, the additional £2 million and the fact that there is a member of the Cabinet with a responsibility for cities demonstrate our SNP Government’s commitment to our cities. The strategy, which will be implemented in collaboration with our cities, is to be welcomed across the chamber.
It is important to recognise the good work that has been carried out by previous Administrations under the auspices of the cities growth fund which, although welcome, was restrictive in terms of what it could be used for. By rolling the cities growth fund into cities’ allocations, John Swinney removed the strings on how that money could be used that had been applied by previous Administrations. The cities growth fund did not show the results that might have been expected across Scotland, but Dundee was an exception in that regard. The use of the fund to pay for our central waterfront was an excellent example of how money can be used to benefit not only the city but the city region. That was the result of a cross-party approach that should be welcomed.
Statistics such as the fact that 67 per cent of Scotland’s gross value added is generated in the six city regions demonstrate the importance of our cities in driving forward the economy and, given the current difficult economic situation, it is more important than ever that we support our cities and optimise economic growth and job creation. The cabinet secretary talked about Scotland’s six cities working together and building on their combined strengths to provide sustainable economic growth and attract large-scale private sector investment.
I look forward to the number of our cities increasing to seven, and I fully support the fair city, Perth, in its bid to be awarded city status as part of the diamond jubilee celebrations. Perth is just 22 miles from Dundee and we share many economic, social and cultural links, which I hope will be strengthened over the coming years, regardless of the decision on Perth’s city status. I certainly support Perth in its campaign.
A prime example of how a city can help to invigorate a region is the Victoria and Albert museum project in Dundee and our central waterfront redevelopment. The central waterfront project is expected to create at least 1,000 jobs over 10 years, to generate more than £500 million of GVA for Scotland’s economy and to bring in an additional £270 million of private sector investment. Members will be pleased to hear that the project is moving forward. As we speak, preparatory work is under way on the Tay river bed for the foundations of the V&A, which will be the centrepiece of our new waterfront. Yesterday, the old walkways to Tayside house came down as part of the redevelopment of the area around the museum site, and we look forward to Tayside house being demolished in the near future.
We heard yesterday that the non-Government-funded aspect of the V&A project has received a boost—the funding campaign has announced that £5 million of private funding is expected to be in place by the end of the year. It is estimated that the V&A at Dundee will attract 500,000 people in its first year and 300,000 people a year thereafter, which it is clear will have a hugely positive impact on the city of Dundee, on Tayside and probably on Scotland as a whole.
Dundee currently has a strong economic base in the creative industries, such as the computer games industry, and it is a world leader in life sciences, but it has huge potential in another area that could result in a radical increase in the city’s economic output and skilled jobs base. This week, we had the announcement that one of the four enterprise zones that are to be created will be the low carbon/renewables east enterprise area, which will be formed by Dundee port in conjunction with the port of Leith.
Dundee port is already a key renewables site, and there is strong interest from manufacturing companies. The recent memorandum of understanding that was signed with Scottish and Southern Energy will ensure that Dundee is a key strategic location for the development of its technology. The creation of the enterprise zone will enable Dundee to offer incentives to attract private investors and to secure a great many good-quality engineering jobs and, of course, apprenticeships. People in Dundee are very proud of the way in which the city has moved forward with life sciences and video games, but there has been a feeling that its manufacturing base had been eroded over decades, so there is great excitement about the potential that the new renewables industry offers our city.
By working together, Dundee and Edinburgh can ensure that not just one city gets the benefit that enterprise zone status brings and that a hub is created that will be worth far more than would have been the case had the two areas worked separately.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-01740, in the name of Nicola Sturgeon, on the agenda for cities.14:57
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy (Nicola Sturgeon)
SNP
This is an important debate not only for our cities, but for the regions in which they sit and, I argue, for all of Scotland. It is good to see so many membe...
Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Scottish Labour welcomes the debate and the publication of the strategy for cities, which can help to shape the Scottish Government’s cities policy and provi...
Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee City West) (SNP)
SNP
Does the member acknowledge that the cities growth fund was rolled into the local government allocation that the cities received?
Drew Smith
Lab
I entirely accept that point, but rolling the fund into the allocation meant that it was used to pursue the Scottish Government’s priorities, whereas its pur...
Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Well, I had good news and bad news. The good news was a call from the business team, saying that the Conservative spokesman had an opportunity in this aftern...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
Do it!
Jackson Carlaw
Con
I am tempted, but I do not know whether it will help the Presiding Officer to stretch out the afternoon.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
Please do not do it, Mr Carlaw.
Jackson Carlaw
Con
I accept the report and its contention that cities are a good thing; that Scotland has some; and that they are generally to be commended. Indeed, I share the...
Drew Smith
Lab
I commend to the member the Glasgow Economic Commission, which has involved the private sector in its work; indeed, the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is one of...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
I fully accept that point, but I am sure that Mr Smith would accept that, as they go about their day, most businesspeople concentrate on their business. I do...
Nicola Sturgeon
SNP
They are certainly not watching Mr Carlaw.
Jackson Carlaw
Con
I am the first to admit that they would be very disappointed if they were watching this afternoon.Businesses do what they need to do, and businesspeople want...
Maureen Watt
SNP
Will the member give way?
Jackson Carlaw
Con
Of course. Interruption.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Can we have Maureen Watt’s microphone on, please?
Maureen Watt
SNP
It was my fault; I did not have my card in.The member should get out a bit more. What he calls for is precisely what is happening in Aberdeen, where people a...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I would be grateful if you could come to a conclusion, Mr Carlaw.
Jackson Carlaw
Con
I will do so by saying that my son is at university in Aberdeen, so I get to visit Aberdeen quite regularly. I congratulate Maureen Watt on what will be an e...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We now move to the open debate. Although we are not awash with time, we have a little bit of leeway for interventions.15:28
Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee City West) (SNP)
SNP
Members will not be surprised to hear that my speech will focus on my home city, Dundee.The opening statement by the cabinet secretary, the additional £2 mil...
Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The member and I both welcomed this week’s announcement of the enterprise zone. Has he had any indication from his Government about what form the incentives ...
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
Dundee City Council is engaging with the cabinet secretary to ensure that, by working together, Dundee and Edinburgh get the best impact for us. It is import...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I would be grateful if the member could start to conclude.
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
The development of Dundee as a base for renewables and the site of the V&A would not have come about were it not for the support of Dundee City Council, whic...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I remind members that if they wish to speak in the debate, they should press their request-to-speak buttons, and that if they intervene, they should then pre...
John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate. I want to focus on the challenges for the Fife region of being between two of Scotland’s largest cities—Dun...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
I thank John Park for his thought-provoking speech, which touched on issues that concern me, too. I will talk about community involvement and community benef...
Drew Smith
Lab
The member can correct me if I am wrong, but has the SNP group in Glasgow City Council not expressed concerns about that project? It has not supported a spee...