Scotland’s Economy

He criticised previous strategies in the creative sector as mere photo opportunities. He welcomed the Government's honest approach to financial challenges but stressed the need to address foundational difficulties.

He pointed out worrying trends in Scotland's food and drink sector, including falling output, employment, and business failures. He asked if the Government will identify food and drink as a key growth industry.

Stewart highlighted the potential of Ayrshire as a powerhouse in the clean energy revolution and emphasized the need for investment in skills infrastructure to support former coalfield sites. She praised GB Energy's initiatives aimed at doubling onshore wind energy by 2030, which would benefit her constituency through community projects.

Frank McNally congratulated the lead MP and discussed the economic challenges in Scotland, highlighting Labour's efforts to create jobs and improve public services through measures like banning exploitative contracts and creating a national wealth fund. He highlighted the challenge of decimation in further education, particularly colleges, affecting upskilling opportunities. He also noted the importance of ensuring that scale-ups from universities can grow significantly within Scotland.

He criticised the Scottish Government's economic strategy announced in 2007, noting that Scotland's economy has underperformed compared to expectations. He pointed out issues with education reform, NHS funding, police numbers, and climate change policies. Downie commended recent Labour government initiatives aimed at establishing a national wealth fund and boosting clean energy investment. The hon. Member questioned whether the failure of previous Governments to plan for the Longannet site, which closed in 2016, could be considered a missed opportunity for job creation and economic growth in west Fife. He asked if a key area for investment from the national wealth fund should be Scotland's port infrastructure, particularly at Rosyth in his constituency.

Discussed Scotland's potential in natural resources and diverse business sectors, thanking government officials for support during job losses at Mitsubishi Electric. He discussed supporting start-ups coming out of Scottish universities and the need for better access to finance to prevent these companies from being bought up or moving to America. He also mentioned the importance of unlocking pension funds for investment.

He highlighted the importance of North Sea oil fabrication yards in preventing highland depopulation and called for the utilization of existing welding and fabrication skills in renewable energy projects. He also advocated for increased government funding to match European competition in space launch initiatives from Shetland and Sutherland. Lastly, he stressed the need for better childcare services to fully utilize the potential of Scotland's female workforce. The hon. Member intervened to discuss the ageing skills of workers in industries like welding and fabrication, emphasising the need to pass on these skills to ensure a new generation can take up such roles. He congratulated the Minister on his appointment and suggested discussing with the Scotland Secretary how to revitalise Highlands and Islands Enterprise, which he saw as a shadow of its former self.

He confirmed that the industrial strategy is practical and working in the United States, creating jobs in former industrial areas. He emphasized that the Labour Government will help to create good jobs in Scotland.

Jim Shannon highlighted the cultural and economic ties between Northern Ireland and Scotland, mentioning a pending Ofgem decision on an electricity project linking both regions. He also shared a personal anecdote about cross-border medical assistance for his staff member. He mentioned the interconnector between Scotland and Northern Ireland as a potential way to reduce energy costs and support economic growth. He suggested that the Minister could respond to this point at a later date.

Ms. Reid congratulated her colleague on securing the debate and highlighted East Kilbride's history of economic success due to strategic interventionist policies. She contrasted this with current challenges faced by the town, including full employment decline after manufacturing pullouts and retail challenges post-financial crisis. She noted the lack of serious investment strategy from previous Governments and expressed hope for renewal under the new Government's focus on growth and investment.

He expressed concern over the cap on Scottish pupils attending university while foreign students are incentivised. He questioned whether the universities sector in Scotland has a great future.

Asked about whether it was a mistake by the UK Labour Government to reverse investment in a supercomputer in Edinburgh. Mr Lamont acknowledged the importance of investing in skills for traditional industries and highlighted the loss of skills in the oil and gas sector. He emphasised that despite political disagreements, there was significant cooperation between UK and Scottish Governments on projects like the supercomputer project for Edinburgh University. He cited Fraser of Allander Institute's survey showing poor understanding and engagement from businesses towards the Scottish Government.

Sullivan discussed the diverse business landscape in her constituency and pointed out significant challenges such as underfunding of infrastructure projects, including a £23.7 million cut to the travel budget, which hinders local economic growth. She also mentioned the need for new train stations to support sustainable transport and unlock further development.

Praised Aberdeen as a great city for energy generation and technology. Stressed the need to maintain oil and gas skills while transitioning to renewable energy, highlighting potential job losses if transition is too rapid. She requested a commitment to speak with the Chancellor about showing confidence for the Scottish carbon capture cluster, despite not asking for immediate funding.

Mr. Baker highlighted the importance of Scotland's economic legacy in industry, commerce and innovation. He mentioned a visit to InchDairnie distillery which is leading innovation in whisky production by using locally sourced grains and investing in hydrogen-ready technologies. He also praised SGN's pilot programme for domestic hydrogen use in Buckhaven and the role of Bosch as an employer in Glenrothes. Mr. Baker emphasized the significance of GB Energy, a Government initiative backed by £8 billion investment from windfall profits to establish Scotland as a green energy powerhouse.

Emphasised Scotland's universities as vital for economic growth, citing the National Robotarium as an example. Criticised underfunding and Conservative immigration policy affecting university funding and student visas.

The figures on migration show a positive impact, welcoming people from all over the world to Scotland. He questions whether Labour supports the creation of a Scottish visa for economic benefits.

The hon. Member highlighted the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises in Scotland, noting that despite creating around 56% of private sector employment and contributing significantly to the economy, SMEs are declining due to high energy costs and a challenging economic environment created by both the SNP Scottish Government and the previous Conservative UK Government. She also mentioned specific instances where public contracts were mishandled, such as a firm receiving £50 million that subsequently collapsed.

The MP highlighted the challenges faced by Scotland's economy, including technological advancements and demographic changes. She emphasized the importance of securing manufacturing jobs to support energy transition projects like Berwick Bank wind farm and stressed the need for both UK and Scottish Governments to work together to address issues such as a bureaucratic planning system, skills shortages, and barriers for women entering the workforce. The hon. Member intervened to support the new deal for working people, arguing it would lift thousands of families out of poverty and be beneficial for Scotland's economy.