Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Scottish Industry: International Promotion

Thursday 12 March 2026 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Scottish industry promotion includes opening new markets for Scotch whisky in India and beef in the USA.
  • The Lanarkshire AI growth zone, a large industrial investment in Scotland, is highlighted for its partnership with DataVita and an American cloud computing company.
  • The minister emphasizes the importance of common endeavour in the Union for achieving greater success.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Frank McNally Lab Coatbridge and Bellshill
Scotland Business & Trade
Context

The MP is inquiring about steps to promote Scottish industries internationally, highlighting potential benefits in markets such as India for Scotch whisky and Ukraine for Scottish steel.

Question

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to promote Scottish industry abroad. Promoting Scottish industry overseas is one of our prime objectives. Whether it is opening up new markets such as India for Scotch whisky, securing new beef opportunities in the United States of America, securing contracts for Scottish steel in new bridges in Ukraine, or promoting financial services around the world, we are on the case.

Answer from Chris Bryant

Promoting Scottish industry overseas is one of our prime objectives. Whether it is opening up new markets such as India for Scotch whisky, securing new beef opportunities in the United States of America, securing contracts for Scottish steel in new bridges in Ukraine, or promoting financial services around the world, we are on the case.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps being taken with Cabinet colleagues are not detailed.

How: We Are On The Case

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Q2 Frank McNally Lab Coatbridge and Bellshill
Scotland Science & Technology Business & Trade
Context

The MP highlights the Lanarkshire AI growth zone with £8.2 billion private investment, a critical partnership between Lanarkshire's DataVita and CoreWeave, and asks for further steps to promote Scottish companies internationally.

Question

With up to £8.2 billion of private investment, the Lanarkshire AI growth zone delivered by this Labour Government represents one of the largest industrial investments in the history of Scotland. At its heart is a partnership between Lanarkshire's own DataVita and the American cloud computing company CoreWeave. Such partnerships are critical to supporting the industries of the future, so what further steps can my hon. Friend take to promote Scottish companies overseas to secure such high-quality jobs and deliver even stronger growth?

Answer from Chris Bryant

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the work he has done to make sure that the UK Government have delivered in his constituency. I am glad that he has raised the Lanarkshire AI growth zone, because it is really important in trying to make sure that the industries of the future are at the heart of the jobs of the future in Scotland.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps to promote Scottish companies overseas are not detailed.

How: I Pay Tribute To My Hon. Friend

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Q3 Chris Law SNP Dundee Central
Scotland
Context

The MP questions the Prime Minister's directive to go against the wishes of the Scottish Government and asks whether the Secretary of State supports the Prime Minister or believes Scotland makes better decisions when independent.

Question

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Of course, I will always welcome the fact that Scotland punches above its weight, whether it be industries abroad or investment in Scotland. Indeed, under the SNP, foreign direct investment has been higher in Scotland over the last 10 years than anywhere else in the UK outside of London—something I would expect the UK Government to also celebrate. Instead, we learned through a leaked memo this week that the Prime Minister told senior Ministers of the Government to go against the wishes of the Scottish Government when taking decisions. Does the Secretary of State agree with the Prime Minister? Does he not agree that Scotland makes the best decisions when it is the people of Scotland who make those decisions, which will happen only when it becomes independent?

Answer from Chris Bryant

It is like an open goal, isn't it, Mr Speaker? Sorry—you do not have a view. I believe that we achieve far more by our common endeavour than by going it alone. That is why I am a passionate supporter of the Union.

Not addressed: The specific agreement or disagreement with the Prime Minister's directive and the effectiveness of Scottish decision-making independence are not addressed.

How: It Is Like An Open Goal

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