Alasdair Allan
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Like other members, I very much hope to see further and more comprehensive legislation soon. Meanwhile, as other members have mentioned, it is important not to lose sight of the reasons for and origin of crofting law.”
“I am pleased that my final speech in this session of Parliament is about such an important subject to my constituents as crofting. I, too, pay tribute to the contributions that have been made on the issue over the years by many members, not least by Rhoda Grant and Edward Mountain. This bill has been in the works for a long time.”
“However, the history that I have just recounted means that crofters are very aware that this traditional, culturally vital way of life requires legislation to sustain and protect it. The bill is a step forward in what must be a longer process of crofting law reform.”
“I was pleased to secure several amendments at stage 2, including to give ministers the power to regulate the transfer of owner-occupier crofts, to prevent a right-to-buy where a crofter is in breach of their duties, to explicitly include enforcement duties in the Crofting Commission’s responsibilities and to introduce a more practical and…”
“Depending on the voting intentions of my constituents, I look forward to working with the next Government on the additional legislation that will be required. In the meantime, the bill is an important step forward on the road to crofting legislation reform and I urge members to give it their support. 17:26”
“My amendment 6 would make it clear that that power includes the ability to make provisions on the transfer of associated grazing shares, should it be desirable to strengthen or modify the regime set out in sections 14A and 15. I move amendment 6.”
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“We have invested significantly in Scotland’s manufacturing support infrastructure, including an investment of just under £75 million in the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland and the development of regional and sectoral facilities that are focused on improving the knowledge and skill sets that will be needed by the workforce. Our “Offshore Wind Focus” paper identifies the priority areas for supply chain and infrastructure investment in Scotland’s offshore wind sector and underpins the Government’s approach to delivering a strategic investment of up to £500 million over five years.”
“However, it is also crucial to unlock the economic potential of the energy transition to create jobs and boost economic growth for our communities. Will the minister advise what steps the Scottish Government is taking to establish manufacturing capabilities in Scotland in order to keep skilled jobs in our communities? Alasdair Allan: The member is right to say that environmental and economic benefits go together. We will ensure co-ordinated action across the green industry strategic priority areas to maximise positive economic outcomes.”
“The success of Scotland’s offshore wind industry is a priority for this Government. Our investment forum last week underlined our commitment to attracting investment and demonstrated the approach that we are taking across the public sector by addressing areas such as investment, consenting, skills and grid. We are working closely with the sector to align our approach to the challenges that it faces. This year, we have tripled our capital investment in the sector to £150 million to support the ports, manufacturing and supply chain facilities required, which is helping to secure jobs and economic benefits at scale in Scotland. Colin Beattie: We are all aware of the urgent need to tackle the climate emergency and to achieve net zero.”
“Will he commit to holding a consultation at the earliest opportunity, so that we can get on with action that other parts of the United Kingdom have already taken? Alasdair Allan: In comparison with much of Europe, Scotland enjoys good air quality, and emissions of the main air pollutants, which Colin Smyth referred to, have declined significantly over the past three decades. That has been achieved through tighter regulation, improved fuel quality, cleaner vehicles and many other factors. As I mentioned, I am open to looking at such matters as we move forward, but we must do so in a way that takes account of the evidence from particular parts of Scotland. CalMac Ferries (Construction) 6.”
“We are committed to securing warmer, greener and cheaper heating for everyone in Scotland. A move towards cleaner fuels must take place as part of a just transition, to ensure that no one is left in fuel poverty. We will review the evidence on the potential impacts of taking forward a ban on the sale of house coal on fuel supplies and costs in rural and islands communities, where many people still rely on coal for heating their homes. Colin Smyth: As part of its strategy, the Scottish Government set an ambitious target to have the best air quality in Europe. I am sure that the minister agrees that, if we are to meet that target, the most polluting fuels must be banned to protect the environment and human health. Can the minister give us a timescale for when further consideration will be given to phasing out the use of house coal?”
“Alasdair Allan: As the member has recognised, our abundant natural resources, the sector’s expertise and experience, and the significant investment of the Scottish Government and our enterprise agencies, to date, in wave and tidal energy development have positioned Scotland as a global leader in that sector. However, there is now an opportunity for the UK Government to further build on that success and support the commercialisation and expansion of those nascent technologies, including, as I mentioned, through contracts for difference, which is the primary means of supporting new low-carbon power infrastructure.”
“Audrey Nicoll: Scotland is already home to the biggest and most powerful tidal stream projects in the world, and it is a leader in wave energy development. Indeed, the European Marine Energy Centre has contributed more than £263 million in gross value added to the Scottish economy since 2003, instigating more than 630 high-value jobs across Scotland and the world’s most powerful tidal stream turbine, the O2, in Orkney. Given the vast potential of our natural resources and the wealth of energy expertise in Scotland, especially in my constituency of Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, will the minister say more about Scotland’s future in the marine energy market and how we can further build momentum and attract investment into the sector?”
“Over the past 10 years, the Scottish Government has invested around £50 million in marine technology development through the funding of Wave Energy Scotland. The growth of a world-leading marine renewables industry in this country has resulted in Scotland being internationally recognised as a global frontrunner in wave energy and home to the world’s first and largest tidal stream array and the largest tidal energy converter. However, the main levers for enabling the commercialisation of emerging pre- commercial technologies lie with the United Kingdom Government, including through the contracts for difference scheme, which is the primary way of supporting new low-carbon power infrastructure.”
“To address that fuel poverty, those houses need to be insulated. It is more expensive to do that in rural and island communities, because materials are more expensive and labour costs are higher, due to a lot of that not being locally available. What is the Scottish Government doing to ensure that rural and island homes are upgraded to cut carbon and tackle fuel poverty? Alasdair Allan: I concur with what Rhoda Grant says about the particular problem in the Highlands and Islands. I am aware of that from my constituency. There is a recognition of rurality in the grant and loan scheme. There are also area-based schemes and many other schemes that have made a valuable contribution to addressing fuel poverty in the housing type that Rhoda Grant refers to. I am very acquainted with the situation, because I live in one of those properties.”
“The Scottish Government continues to work with key partners, including Historic Environment Scotland, to enable the best solutions to transition Scotland’s traditional buildings to be more energy efficient and to use clean heating systems while being sympathetic to their character and features. In 2025-26, we are investing more than £300 million in heat and energy efficiency programmes, including for traditional properties. We are considering how we can provide for more bespoke assessment of the technically suitable energy efficiency and clean heating measures that are available for owners of traditional buildings. Rhoda Grant: The minister will be aware that the level of fuel poverty is highest in rural and island communities, where most of the housing stock is old croft houses.”
“Urgent action is needed from the UK Government to repeal the internal market act and restore the full powers of devolved Parliaments, so that they might undertake useful schemes of that kind.”
“Before the minister changes those regulations to undo the will of the Parliament and remove glass from Scotland’s scheme, will he explain how Wales has been able to secure an exemption to the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 in order to implement its own scheme, which includes glass, when Scotland has not? Alasdair Allan: I realise the member’s commitment to the issue. Her question is one that would be usefully addressed to the UK Government, as the matter is not a shining example of the usefulness to Scotland of the so- called UK internal market act, which has again prevented a devolved nation from moving forward with the deposit return scheme as intended.”
“The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering an interoperable deposit return scheme with England and Northern Ireland in 2027 and continues to move ahead with preparations. We have received an industry- backed application to run Scotland’s DRS as well as the scheme in England and Northern Ireland. We are currently assessing the application jointly with the United Kingdom Government and Northern Ireland. As it will be an industry-run scheme, we must be assured that the applicant can deliver DRS and act on behalf of all businesses. Any appointment will be announced once the assessment concludes, which we expect to be in April. Lorna Slater: In November 2024, the Welsh Government announced that it would include glass in its deposit return scheme. The regulations for Scotland’s DRS, which were passed in 2020, include glass.”
“The project willow conclusions and recommendations will be made available via a public information document, which we hope will be published next week. We are working closely with the UK Government and other partners to finalise the details of that. I look forward to members from across the chamber engaging constructively with the project willow outputs when they become available.”
“Michelle Thomson: The minister will be aware—I have raised this point many times in our exchanges—that the closure of the refinery is significant not just for those who are directly employed there but for the wider supply chain, particularly within the Grangemouth chemical cluster. Project willow is a vital piece of work that should give direction to investment and reassurance to workers on a foundation for the future. I know that the project willow report has been signed off by both the United Kingdom and Scottish Governments, but is the minister able to give a definitive date for its publication? Alasdair Allan: Michelle Thomson has been diligent in raising the matter, which affects many of her constituents.”
“Ministers and officials engage with the Ineos businesses at Grangemouth regularly, recognising their role as important employers of highly skilled people within Grangemouth. The news that Ineos Olefins & Polymers UK is considering redundancies as a result of the closure of the refinery is concerning, and we stand ready to support workers who are impacted by that decision. I appeal to the business to explore all possible opportunities for redeployment of any workers who are at risk of redundancy, and I commit to exploring, with the business, all routes to mitigate any further loss of industrial activity or employment across the industrial cluster.”
“I freely acknowledge the member’s point, though, for the reasons that I have given with regard to the challenge in meeting this year’s target.”
“Given that, does the minister agree that it would be sensible to include a feedstock mapping exercise for organic waste in the waste reprocessing infrastructure report that the Scottish Government agreed to at stage 3 of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill? Alasdair Allan: I am happy to get back to the member on that detailed point, but it is significant that we are prioritising action to tackle food waste and, in particular, waste that is going to landfill. We are making progress on that. As I have said, I am happy to write to the member about the specific point that he is making, but it is worth saying that in the past decade, we have halved the amount of waste going to landfill, so we are making progress on the wider issue.”
“I am disappointed that, based on the latest estimates, we look unlikely to meet our target to reduce food waste by 33 per cent by 2025. The reasons behind that are complex, and they partly reflect changed consumer behaviour since the pandemic. Scotland is not alone in facing that challenge; higher food waste levels have been observed across the United Kingdom. However, I am taking action to reset the Government’s approach. The circular economy and waste route map sets out how we will deliver more targeted action to support households and businesses. Maurice Golden: Missing the target to reduce food waste is bad enough, but it gets worse: the amount of food waste has increased by 5 per cent from the baseline.”
“With that in mind, we continue to urge the UK Government to accelerate its consideration of the regulations that are required to enable the development of hydrogen infrastructure and the establishment of business models that would support hydrogen transport and storage, in order to provide clarity and confidence to developers who are investing in driving forward hydrogen production projects in Scotland. I would also urge the UK Government to set out the timeframe for an accelerated decision on hydrogen blending in the gas grid.”
“We are still waiting for the UK Government to update hydrogen storage and transportation regulations, and that continues to cause investment uncertainty. What discussions or communications have Scottish ministers had with the UK Government to urge it to get its finger oot on this issue? Alasdair Allan: It is true to say that the establishment of a robust regulatory framework is key to the deployment of hydrogen as an important part of our future energy mix.”
“Hydrogen is key to our net zero journey. We remain committed to developing a world-leading green hydrogen sector in Scotland. Alongside our enterprise agencies, we are engaging closely with the sector to support hydrogen production and use. Over recent months, I have chaired the Scottish hydrogen industry forum. That group ensures that Government and industry, working together, can support growth and identify barriers to deployment. Many levers that are required to develop the hydrogen economy are reserved to the United Kingdom Government. We will work closely with that Government to ensure that the interests of the Scottish hydrogen sector are recognised. Kevin Stewart: It is a great pity that some of the reserved issues are holding back investment in production and usage in Scotland.”
“If not, will he confirm what the unit considers to be a decision of a strategic nature, if the construction of one of the country’s largest solar farms does not qualify? Alasdair Allan: As Brian Whittle identified in his question, the case is a live planning application. I am part of the planning process, so he will understand why I simply cannot comment on a live application. He is, of course, entitled to raise issues that are of concern to him and his community as part of that process, but I cannot prejudice matters by commenting on it. I am afraid that that is all that I can add.”
“However, I have been struck by concerns from the community about the impact that the development could have on the area’s children, because it borders an outdoor learning facility. Concerningly, there appear to be conflicting views as to whether the development should trigger a child rights and wellbeing impact assessment under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024. The energy consents unit argues that the decision on the development is exempt and is not strategic in nature, while the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland has said that it sees no reason why the ECU would not conduct such an assessment. Will the minister consider instructing the ECU to carry out an assessment?”
“Meaningful consultation of local authorities, communities and members of the public is key to the determination process for renewable energy developments above 50MW. Developers are instructed to follow our good practice guidance on pre-application consultation involving communities, as that is the best stage for communities to help to shape a development before an application is submitted. The Scottish Government is committed to further strengthening the engagement process for communities by making pre-application consultations a statutory requirement, as part of the United Kingdom Government’s proposed reforms to electricity infrastructure consenting in Scotland. Brian Whittle: As the minister might be aware, the proposed Rogerhill solar farm near Blackwood is set to be one of the largest solar sites in the UK if it is approved.”
“The first is EPC reform, which is progressing and on which the Scottish Government has been taking views and will ensure that change is made. The second issue to which Meghan Gallacher alluded is, I think, whether legislation should require a certain EPC rating of home owners and those who rent out properties. That is a separate question. It is connected to some of the questions around the proposed heat in buildings bill. The Scottish Government will return to that as soon as is practicable. Approval of Renewable Energy Developments above 50MW (Community Consultation) 4.”
“The fact that the Government is no further forward with introducing the bill in the Parliament leaves unanswered serious questions about energy performance certificate ratings. I understand that the Government is consulting on EPCs. However, the current deadline for landlords to comply with the requirement to have an EPC rating of C is 2028. Is that target achievable when less than half of private homes are EPC C rating compliant and the Government might shift the goalposts on the scope of EPC ratings? Will the Government consider the current timelines to ensure that what it proposes and what it expects of private home owners are in sync? Alasdair Allan: It is important to separate two issues in that question.”
“We are considering the responses to our consultation on proposals for a heat in buildings bill and will respond as soon as is practicable. We also know that further action by the United Kingdom Government in reserved areas is essential for the heat transition. That includes rebalancing gas and electricity prices, clarity on its intentions for phasing out gas boilers in existing homes and a swift decision on the future role of the gas grid, in line with the Climate Change Committee’s recent advice. Meghan Gallacher: I say to the minister that we have only 14 months left, but the housing sector needs certainty about substantial proposals and changes that the Government has suggested.”
“Technology reductions were excluded from emission reduction considerations, and land use will form an important part of our forthcoming climate change plan.”
“Alasdair Allan: It should be said, by way of response to those important questions, that some of the commentary that anticipates the missing of the 2045 targets is applicable only if emission reductions from land use, for example, are not considered and if no further policies are brought forward. As I said, the Scottish Government is entirely committed to the 2045 target. In 2022, the Scottish Government commissioned an analytical report on the estimated projection of Scottish emissions from 2019 to 2045, which is published on the Scottish Government’s website. That was a snapshot in time, and since then we have been developing policies for the next climate change plan. The figures for that are available.”
“Last year, the Scottish Government ditched its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75 per cent by 2030, and, in January, Audit Scotland said that the Scottish Government is unlikely to meet its 2030 target to reduce car use by 20 per cent, due to a lack of leadership. It has now been reported that environmental consultancy Ricardo-AEA has told the Scottish Government that its 2045 net zero target is at risk of being missed. Can the minister assure the Parliament that the Government’s failure to keep the 2045 target on track will not lead to higher net zero costs being imposed on Scottish households?”
“The Government’s commitment—[Interruption.] The Deputy Presiding Officer: We need your microphone moved. Alasdair Allan: A schoolboy error, Presiding Officer. The Government’s commitment to reaching net zero by 2045 is absolutely unwavering. We are continuing to develop and take forward climate policies ahead of the Climate Change Committee’s advice on new carbon budget levels, which is due this May. Once we have received that advice, we will bring forward the carbon emission targets via secondary legislation, which will set a deliverable course towards net zero, with the aim of publishing a draft climate change plan to achieve those targets in the autumn. Annie Wells: We are beginning to see what happens when the Scottish Government sets ambitious targets for the climate without any concrete plan for how to achieve those goals.”
“The Presiding Officer: The ministerial code is not a matter for me, and therefore not a matter on which I will be ruling from the chair. Parliamentary Bureau Motion”
“The deployment of renewables provides Scotland with the best pathway to net zero by 2045, creating a climate- friendly energy system that delivers affordable, resilient and clean energy supplies for communities, businesses and consumers. Douglas Lumsden: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. In today’s debate, the minister said once again that Scottish ministers could not meet campaign groups because that would be a breach of the ministerial code. Chapter 5 of the ministerial code lays out that ministers can have such meetings but not pass comment or give a personal view. Also, if they are meeting one side, they should meet both sides. Has there been any approach to change the Official Report to show that ministers can meet campaign groups?”
“Those reports highlight that we are seizing the economic opportunities of the energy transition. As I said to Finlay Carson, we need to bring people with us, and we are alive to that. That point was also made by Emma Harper and Fergus Ewing in different ways at different points in the debate. However, as we have heard, in the past 12 months, more than £30 million of benefits have been offered to Scottish communities. We will continue to work with the renewables sector and the UK Government to ensure that communities feel the maximum benefit from the transition. Patrick Harvie: Will the minister give way? The Presiding Officer: The minister must conclude. Alasdair Allan: I am afraid that I am going to have to close. We know that Scotland needs to deliver cleaner, greener energy, not new nuclear.”
“Under this Government, 70 per cent of the electricity that was generated in Scotland in 2023 was from renewable sources, which is a marked increase on 32 per cent in 2013. Patrick Harvie: Will the minister take an intervention? Alasdair Allan: I must make progress—time is running out, I am afraid. Those figures illustrate that our policy position of no to nuclear and yes to renewables is bearing fruit and delivering clean energy for Scotland. The findings of a Fraser of Allander Institute report that was published in December 2023 show a thriving renewable energy sector in Scotland that generated in excess of £10 billion of output in 2021 and supports more than 42,000 jobs. Further independent analysis from Ernst & Young shows that low-carbon and renewable energy could support almost 80,000 jobs in Scotland by 2050.”
“Will you agree to a moratorium in Dumfries and Galloway until the Government gets its act together and tells us what its plans for renewable energy are? The Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair, please, Mr Carson. Alasdair Allan: I cannot agree with a lot of what the member has just said, but I can agree with him on the importance of making sure that we bring communities with us and on the issue of having targets around the growth of renewables in Scotland and the role that a range of technologies are playing in our journey to net zero. The renewable energy generated in 2023 was equivalent to what would be needed to power all households in Scotland for five and a half years.”
“To be absolutely clear, it is the Scottish Government’s view that the UK Government should instead focus on increasing the deployment of renewables. At the beginning of the debate, the cabinet secretary set out— Finlay Carson: Will the minister take an intervention? Alasdair Allan: I will. Finlay Carson: I appreciate the minister giving way. He says that his focus is on renewables, but we have no idea how much renewables generation rural Scotland is supposed to take on. Galloway is already over capacity for wind turbines and there is no clear indication of when it will stop. We have a local authority that is inundated with applications for wind farms, upgraded power lines, biodiversity and ecosystems services and solar, and the Government is overturning the views of local people and the independent reporters.”
“In 2015, the International Energy Agency published research that suggested that new nuclear power in the UK would be more expensive than it would be in any other country, yet the UK Government has continued to commit huge sums of public money to nuclear energy. As we have heard, when accounting for inflation, Hinkley Point C is over budget by £28 billion, and it is running at least six years late. Just to put that into some kind of perspective, £28 billion is equivalent to Scotland’s entire health budget for the year, and then half as much as that again. Despite those delays and cost overruns, the UK Government and its allies in quarters of this chamber continue to stake taxpayer money on that nuclear gamble.”
“At one point in the debate, rather charmingly, the waste was compared with dishwasher tablets, but it is a little more toxic than that. Martin Whitfield: Will the minister take an intervention? Alasdair Allan: No, thank you. The toxic and life-threatening waste that is created requires complex and robust management to ensure the protection of people and the environment. That—coupled with the enduring risk of nuclear accidents, as recent history shows— means that we cannot simply ignore the dangers of producing and managing hazardous radioactive waste products. The Scottish Government also remains unconvinced of the economic argument for new nuclear.”
“Alasdair Allan: I am not anti-science, but I will give way to someone sensible. Paul Sweeney: Is not the point that the minister has just made precisely why Ineos decided not to invest in SMR development at Grangemouth and, similarly, why Rolls-Royce ruled out Scotland as a location for the heavy-pressure vessel manufacturing facility that it had planned for SMRs? Alasdair Allan: Perhaps Mr Sweeney knows more about the reasons than I do, but my understanding is that Rolls-Royce ruled out similar developments at Grangemouth. The carbon neutrality or otherwise of nuclear power generation has been alluded to a number of times. I accept that nuclear power generation is not a carbon-intensive process, but it creates toxic and life-threatening waste.”
“It was interesting that some of the contributions towards the end of the debate acknowledged the unfair nature of the status quo when it comes to transmission charges and many related issues, and we are having that conversation with the UK Government. If I heard him rightly—forgive me if I did not— Paul Sweeney asked a question about small modular reactors at Grangemouth. I understand that, in 2022, Ineos confirmed that such reactors did not form part of its net zero road map for Grangemouth. As I said, I cannot refer to everyone who spoke in the debate. However, as the cabinet secretary made clear, the Scottish Government unapologetically rejects new nuclear power plants in Scotland because of the risks and costs related to their development— Stephen Kerr: You are anti-science. Paul Sweeney: Will the minister give way?”
“All those issues bring a renewed focus on the importance of renewable energy generation, our progress towards net zero and Scotland’s future energy sector, as many members have mentioned. I will not be able to do justice to the many members who made contributions, but there were at least some points of consensus. For instance, Alex Cole-Hamilton pointed out the need to speed up the pace of grid connections in order to obviate constraint payments and allow renewables to flourish, and Audrey Nicoll mentioned the need for transmission charge reform. Douglas Lumsden: Does the Scottish Government have a view on zonal pricing? Is it in favour of that? Alasdair Allan: Zonal pricing has to be done in a way that is right and fair.”
“I thank members for, in many cases, their insightful contributions to this important debate. However, among the advocates of nuclear power, there was a notable shyness about volunteering communities in their own constituencies that would host not only— Edward Mountain: Will the minister take an intervention? Martin Whitfield: Will the minister give way? Alasdair Allan: I ask members to let me finish. Those communities would have to host not only nuclear power stations but nuclear waste repositories—members were even shyer about that issue. I mention that because the debate, which is timely, gives us the opportunity to talk about the significant changes in global and UK energy markets, as well as UK-wide policy developments and court decisions that have had a direct impact on Scotland’s energy sector.”
“This devolved Government should be harnessing the well-paid and highly skilled workers at Torness and Hunterston, but instead it wants to turn its back on them with its scaremongering and pathetic motion today.”
“We are overreliant on imported oil and gas now, and the SNP wants to increase that by shutting off the taps of the North Sea. Its presumption against new oil and gas is hurting the industry, the north-east and the towns and communities that rely on the sector. We also know that energy based on solar and wind power is not reliable all year round. We must ensure that we have the required base-load when we need it, which is why so many countries are considering small, modular nuclear reactors. Scotland could be leading the way and at the forefront of that technology, but, once again, this Government insists on holding us back, on false science and on scaremongering.”
“What should be the most important discussion of our time—how we make sure that we have the energy resources that we need during international destabilisation—instead turns into a nonsense debate that is designed to score political points for this out-of-touch, out-of-ideas SNP Government. We are living in a time of global uncertainty when most of our energy requirements are still met from oil and gas. At a time when we should be looking at how we can become more energy self- sufficient in the short term and more green in the medium-to-long term, this Government would rather stoke political grievance. We should be looking at how we can fulfil our energy needs by expanding our domestic oil and gas supplies in the short term.”
“Not for the first time, I point out to the member that the ministerial code does not allow ministers to meet community groups that are engaged in live planning applications. Douglas Lumsden: They can meet with SSE but they cannot meet with the people they are meant to represent. If the minister reads the ministerial code, he will see that that is wrong. When I saw that there was to be another debate on renewable energy, I, like many others, assumed that we would once again be talking about a just transition to renewables or the future of our oil and gas sector—or that there would maybe even be word of the much-delayed energy strategy. I was therefore quite surprised when I saw the focus on nuclear. So, that is this week’s anti-science from this out-of-ideas SNP Government.”
“I move amendment S6M-16595.2, to leave out from “on the” to end and insert: “economic growth; believes that public sector investment in infrastructure is essential in facilitating growth and therefore notes with alarm the delays to, and uncertainty around, the project to dual the A9 from Perth to Inverness and the Scottish Government’s temporising on dualling the A96; recognises that private investment is necessary to maintain a supply of core goods and services, and therefore condemns the severe damage done to the build- to-rent housing sector by rent cap schemes; acknowledges that success in attracting foreign direct investment is measured as much in project value as in project count; urges the Scottish Government to reverse its opposition to nuclear energy, which limits both investment in energy projects as well as the long-term supply of reliable energy near where it is in demand; emphasises that investment is intrinsically linked to the availability of skilled labour, and notes, therefore, with concern that the Scottish Government’s highest-in-the-UK income tax rates are limiting industry access to skilled workers, thereby undermining investment and economic growth.” The Deputy Presiding Officer: I advise members that, at this point in time, we have a bit of time in hand, which is why I was able to be a bit generous with Mr Fraser in the light of his generosity in accepting a number of interventions.”
“Will the member take an intervention? The Deputy Presiding Officer: The member is about to conclude. Murdo Fraser: Investment will come when there is an attractive regulatory and tax environment. As we saw in the budget that was passed by Parliament on Tuesday, creating such an environment is not an ambition that the Scottish Government seems to share. There is much more that we need to do in terms of public spend and attracting private investment to deliver the economic growth that we need. Those are the points that are made in my amendment, which I am pleased to move.”