Kate Forbes
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“We are committed to securing a just transition for Grangemouth. We have provided more than £12 million in funding to support the creation of up to 279 jobs. We are also committed to supporting workers who have been made redundant as a result of commercial decisions at Grangemouth.”
“The unions, especially Unite the Union, have been constructive throughout and have put the needs of their members before anything else. What role has our Government played to create a future for the workers who have been abandoned and discarded by the United Kingdom Labour Government?”
“It has worked with us to establish the Grangemouth jobs prioritisation scheme, which ensures that redundant workers are prioritised for new opportunities arising at Grangemouth as a result of the Grangemouth just transition fund.”
“Kate Forbes: I agree that attracting a varied and diverse range of investors who are able to meet the needs of companies across all projects and stages is vital. We have seen huge growth in start- ups, and now the focus needs to turn to scale-ups.”
“High streets are going to be hammered again by inaction on business rates that, in many cases, are doubling or trebling. Has the Government done any analysis of the impact of those increases on business closures and vacancy rates, and what they will do to the streets? Should the Government not look again at pausing the process?”
“Oliver Mundell: I associate myself with comments from colleagues across the chamber about the Deputy First Minister. I am concerned that the Scottish National Party- led Dumfries and Galloway Council is undoing all that hard work by continuing with its obsession with wasting £70 million of taxpayers’ money on the deeply unpopular Whitesan…”
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“The act, therefore, is like a ticking time bomb under Scotland’s NHS—one that could be detonated at any time by an ideological right-wing Government at Westminster—and that threat needs to be removed. The internal market act must be repealed. The previous UK Government insisted that the act was necessary to protect internal UK trade, and that it merely replaced the market rules that we had when we were in the European Union. That is not true. In place of broad legal principles of mutual recognition and non-discrimination, balanced by proportionality and subsidiarity tests, and sensible derogations for important policy outcomes such as public health and environmental protection, the act introduces rigid statutory requirements that apply automatically and in nearly all cases.”
“Just this month, the Labour Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said: “Nigel Farage would introduce an insurance model and charge patients to use the NHS.” The UK Labour Government itself believes, therefore, that the threat is there to the English NHS. That is where the internal market act becomes dangerous for Scotland. Schedule 2 to the act allows a UK minister, at the stroke of a pen, to bring “healthcare services provided in hospitals” and “other healthcare facilities” in Scotland within “market access principles”. In other words, if healthcare services in England are opened up to much greater private provision, we in this Parliament could be powerless to stop that same process here.”
“It was passed without the consent of the Scottish Parliament or of any devolved legislature. It introduces far-reaching and unpredictable new constraints on the powers of the Scottish Parliament. It provides UK ministers with an open-ended power effectively to nullify laws that are passed in this chamber. It enables UK ministers effectively to unilaterally alter the competence of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish ministers by allowing currently excluded matters to be caught by what are called “market access principles”. In that last respect, I will set out the threat. It is a clear possibility, at the very least, that the next UK Government will be a right-wing Administration that is hostile to the national health service funding model.”
“On 4 July last year, a new Labour United Kingdom Government was elected on a manifesto commitment to “reset” relations with the devolved Governments. Few could fail to welcome that ambition and the chance to turn the page on the disastrous legacy of the previous Conservative Government. Brexit delivered a double blow to Scotland. First, we were taken out of Europe against the wishes of the majority of Scottish voters, and then, Brexit was used to justify the systematic undermining of the powers of this Parliament—a Parliament for which the people of Scotland voted in a decisive referendum result a quarter of a century ago. Most significantly, that undermining came in the form of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020. I will briefly remind the Parliament of what the internal market act does.”
“South of Scotland Enterprise works closely with business, Borders College, Dumfries and Galloway College and Scotland’s Rural College to design curriculum choices that target growth sectors.”
“Can the Deputy First Minister comment on what conversations have been had regarding projects that will attract business and, in particular, young people to the region to grow the local economy? Kate Forbes: There are across the south a number of exciting projects in development that will provide opportunities for young people. South of Scotland Enterprise is delivering a pioneering pathways project that will support young entrepreneurs to bring their business visions to life through coaching, advice and financial support. Its youth advisory forum ensures that young people’s voices are heard and that they are involved in finding solutions to the barriers that they face.”
“South of Scotland Enterprise has delivered tangible benefits for businesses and communities in the south. Last year, the agency invested £13.7 million in business and community enterprises and £5.7 million in 48 strategic projects, including the Chapelcross energy transition zone and Borders innovation park. The agency helped to create or safeguard more than 1,700 jobs, worked with more than 1,400 entrepreneurs and led the first pathways pilot to help underrepresented founders to start their own business. Emma Harper: It is clear that SOSE has had an important impact across Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders, with its teams working hard to support and grow local businesses as well as supporting communities.”
“The number that the member quotes, if I understand it correctly, covers all employment at the yard, plus overheads in central administration costs. Perhaps he can clarify that. Now that the Glen Sannox has been completed, the bulk of the workforce at Ferguson Marine is working on the delivery of the Glen Rosa, and those costs are therefore recoverable. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I have a lot of supplementaries here; I will not get through all of them, but I will get through as many as I can.”
“The running costs are a commercial matter for Ferguson Marine to answer. Monthly charges to the Scottish Government fluctuate, based on the work that is undertaken under current contracts. Edward Mountain: Let me help the Deputy First Minister in answering that question. The monthly under-recovery, as quoted by Ferguson Marine, is £1 million per calendar month. It has been suggested that it costs £20 million a year to run Ferguson Marine if there is no recovery of any works. That is £84,000 per job. How will the Scottish Government fund that if it does not give the small vessels contract to Ferguson Marine? Kate Forbes: I hope that the member is not recommending that we break procurement law. The yard is tendering for new vessels, and that will be managed as it should be in accordance with procurement law.”
“Kate Forbes: I am afraid that I do not operate on the basis of sources—I operate on the basis of the letters that are sent to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee as updates on progress that is being made. As the member will know, those letters address matters around timetabling and matters relating to cost. As he knows, the Glen Rosa is now the yard’s primary focus, and all of the workforce is focused on delivering that vessel.”
“The Scottish Government met with the Ferguson Marine board on 30 January. Updates were given by the chief executive and the chief financial officer, and there were discussions about the yard’s future strategy and business operations. Graham Simpson: I thank the Deputy First Minister for that answer—no doubt, at that meeting, the progress of the Glen Sannox and the Glen Rosa would have been discussed. This morning, the Public Audit Committee heard that there could be delays to the Glen Rosa, and extra costs, which is quite alarming. I have subsequently been told by a source that that delay could be until April. Does that chime with what the Deputy First Minister understands? Would she regard April as an unacceptable delay? What would be a reasonable extra cost, in her view?”
“Will Mr Hoy take an intervention? Craig Hoy: I will in a moment. Mr Cole-Hamilton has been getting carried away. I do not disagree that he has secured some concessions in his budget negotiations, but Mr Cole-Hamilton says—and in fact has boasted— that the Liberal Democrats secured the reinstatement of the winter fuel payment and that he alone delivered rates relief for hospitality businesses. What the Lib Dems do not want you to know is that they have gone back on their word. In December, Mr Cole-Hamilton said that he would vote down the budget if it contained a single penny to be spent on independence, but it was confirmed last week that spending on the constitution is woven right throughout the budget.”
“Sarah Boyack said that it is a question of not just fairness but effectiveness. For the just transition to work, it must be just on the basis of gender, and, if it is to be a transition—in other words, if it is to be effective—we need women in the driving seat, too.”
“As the statistics that a number of members have shared during the debate illustrate, the transition is anything but just as yet. Pam Gosal noted that 22 per cent of businesses are women led, and 39 per cent lack confidence about net zero. Sarah Boyack said that 25 per cent of green energy jobs are predicted to be held by women, which shows an inherent inequity. Lorna Slater said that 16.5 per cent of engineers in the UK are women, and we know that engineering will be critical for the just transition. Those figures all illustrate that, if the just transition is indeed going to be just, we need to understand the impact on gender. As Audrey Nicoll outlined, we are dealing with, in her words, a “leaky pipeline”, in that the challenge is not the level of initial interest—or even the level of initial job entry—but what happens to those jobs.”
“Michelle Thomson has set out a number of questions that she, understandably, posed to me in the Government about what the Government is doing to involve more women in net zero and what research the Government currently conducts. There might be an opportunity to follow up the debate with a cross-party conversation, if others such as Pam Gosal, Sarah Boyack and Lorna Slater would be interested in that. We could consider what form that should take. Michelle Thomson made the point that the way in which we reach net zero matters just as much as getting there, which is vital. Essentially, it is about the definition of “just transition”. We are all guilty of using the term without thinking about what it means. The first word—“just”—implies equity and justice, and an elimination and eradication of inequity and inequality.”
“I join others in thanking Michelle Thomson for securing the motion for debate in the chamber. I am conscious that, if there is to be progress on this very important issue, there has to be a collective effort, with responsibilities clearly outlined for the private sector and the public sector. More than that, there is a responsibility on us all to raise it as an issue of importance in the political chamber and in our culture. The debate has highlighted an opportunity to do more cross-party work. I would be happy to convene a small cross-party discussion that considers the issues in greater detail, which could perhaps be chaired by Michelle Thomson, with contributions from members and others who are not in the political space.”
“Before we move to First Minister’s questions, I call the First Minister to make a short statement about tomorrow’s weather warning. Red Weather Warning 12:00”
“Will the Deputy First Minister consider that, and will she meet me and campaigners to further discuss the issue? Kate Forbes: An important point to make is that we initially established the remit of the inquiry in order to respond to survivors’ requests. I continue to engage with survivors independently of the inquiry. My view is that changing the remit at this late stage would mean that it will take significantly longer for the inquiry to reach and publish its conclusions, which would risk failing to respond to survivors of in-care abuse and would delay the opportunity to address any recommendations that the inquiry might make. I am very happy to engage with the member on those matters. The Presiding Officer: That concludes general questions.”
“The remit of the Scottish child abuse inquiry was established following extensive consultation with survivors. The inquiry, which has now been operating for nine years, is independent and Lady Smith, its chair, is responsible for deciding what is examined by the inquiry to fulfil its remit. I believe that the remit remains appropriate. Miles Briggs: The Deputy First Minister will know that people who have attended the inquiry are concerned that many victims have felt that their voices have not been heard, that non- disclosure agreements used by public bodies have often stopped truths coming out in the inquiry, and that it is looking at only historical abuse. One of the campaigners has put forward the idea of establishing an independent national whistleblowing officer for education and children’s services.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: Before we move to the open debate, I advise members that we are heavily oversubscribed for this debate. It is inevitable that we will have to extend it by half an hour but, even then, we might struggle to accommodate everybody. I am keen to include everybody who wants to speak in the debate, but that might mean that later speeches have to be truncated somewhat. I ask that all members stick to their speaking allocations and do not go beyond them, because they will be cut off. 17:10”
“What I have said is no political trickery. It is a reality that must be fixed. We do not need more talk; we need positive action. Our communities feel the daily pain of a weakening health system, our staff are too often exhausted, district general services are depleted and health boards seem to have adopted an attitude of, “You come to us—we do not come to you.” One person in the chamber could change that. They could grab those four themes and go wild with common-sense and actionable policies, shake up the system, support our rural staff and provide the change that is needed. If the cabinet secretary does not do that, I hope that the people of Scotland will let the Scottish Conservatives do it in 16 months’ time, because—rest assured—we would.”
“Other countries have been successful: in Estonia, the Government has developed an artificial intelligence-powered health information system; Brazil has taken on large volumes of community health workers; Chile has put in place a rural practitioner incentive programme, which provides financial and housing incentives and professional development opportunities; and Australia has the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The four key themes that underpin those global approaches are decentralisation, the use of technology, the use of incentives and ensuring community involvement. We need a campaign that brings all that together, continues to raise awareness and brings together people from across Scotland to show what is happening with absolute clarity. That is why I will start an awareness campaign for rural healthcare.”
“We need bold, brave and common-sense policies that can deliver real and lasting change. If we want more doctors in our rural communities, we need to incentivise them to come. If we want rural healthcare to be strong and sustainable, we need to accept the costs that come with that and to provide working environments that offer educational opportunities and a fair work-life balance. We need to ensure that, in 21st century Scotland, we are providing the services that people need.”
“Too often, the pressures that we are put under in rural Scotland manifest themselves in unfair treatment of staff, who are part of our rural communities. That is never acceptable. However, I understand that patients are anxious, worried and in pain and that they are never getting appointments or are, perhaps, being sent further away for treatments. We need to reflect those concerns in the Parliament and through our national health service boards. Health professionals on the ground should never face punishment for lack of delivery by those who sit on the Government benches here. I have a small plea: rather than leaving behind frustration or anger the next time that we need healthcare, let us consider leaving a packet of biscuits or a cake— maybe even a thank you.”
“In the spirit of commending workers in rural areas, I note that one advantage of smaller teams is that they are able to adapt, innovate and trial things more effectively. For example, Ross memorial hospital in Dingwall has been far more effective at reducing delayed discharge because it knows the teams on the other side a lot better. Does Tim Eagle agree that freeing up healthcare professionals and empowering them to take decisions on the ground is often more successful in rural areas? Tim Eagle: I agree. I do not have time to go into this in my speech, but I would argue that some of the centralisation in relation to community treatment and care nurses and mental health support has not worked, because local teams are better at making local decisions.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: The Deputy First Minister will now take questions on the issues that were raised in her statement. I intend to allow around 20 minutes for that, after which we will move to the next item of business. Members who wish to put a question should press their request- to-speak buttons.”
“Given the importance of transparency around the actions that we are taking to manage civil emergencies, we will also report to the Parliament every three years on the improvements that we make to emergency resilience and preparedness in Scotland. The first report will be laid before the Parliament in September of this year. I reiterate the Scottish Government’s commitment to continue the highest standard of co-operation with both inquiries, because learning from them is vital. I note my gratitude to those who are working on the UK and Scottish Covid-19 inquiries and those who have provided evidence to them. I am conscious of the immense responsibility that they hold, the enormity of the tasks that they face in understanding and distilling the events of the pandemic, and the important lessons for the future.”
“Our newly established ministerial oversight group, which is co-chaired by my colleagues the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, will meet for the first time in the coming weeks. We have also commenced a programme of work to improve our risk assessment process, which better takes into account Scotland’s circumstances and characteristics, including the impact that risks might have on the most vulnerable in our society. As part of its examinations, the Scottish Covid- 19 inquiry, which Scottish ministers established in December 2021 and operates independently of the UK inquiry, will consider matters relating to pandemic planning and response. We will consider those findings when they are available.”
“The Scottish Government has already accepted the committee’s recommendations in principle and will provide further details on our planned actions in due course. We have made changes to embed the reforms in public services and the justice system that the pandemic necessitated. Improvements in the longer term were delivered via the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Act 2022, which was passed in June of that year. We have taken steps to increase and secure the types and levels of personal protective equipment items that are held in our national stockpile. On 4 June 2024, Cabinet agreed to establish a new cross-Government governance arrangement for future pandemic preparedness.”
“We endorse that approach, and I reassure the people of Scotland that we have not been waiting for the chair to publish before taking action on many of the issues that the inquiry raised. In August 2021, the First Minister established the independent standing committee on pandemic preparedness to provide expert advice on future pandemic risks and how best to prepare for them. The committee provided its final report in November 2024, which covered a range of topics that are closely aligned to those in the inquiry’s report, including effective data sharing and usage; the integration of behavioural science; the improvement of connections between the academic and wider preparedness communities; and the establishment of a Scottish pandemic sciences partnership.”
“A more equal society is better able to prepare for, respond to and recover from civil emergencies. Clearly, certain groups in our society are more susceptible and vulnerable to adverse shocks, and the pandemic not only introduced new inequality but exacerbated existing inequality. We fully endorse the chair’s recommendations and will take action to improve how we identify, assess and address the potential impacts of whole-system emergencies on the most vulnerable in our society. The UK inquiry chair has made clear her expectation that institutions take swift action to consider and implement her recommendations to ensure that changes are in place as quickly as possible.”
“We fully support the chair’s findings and recommendations regarding the vital role that is played by the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors, and the role that they can play in building and maintaining our resilience. I pay tribute to the work of those organisations during the Covid-19 pandemic. Health boards, local government and Police Scotland, which are tasked with planning and responding to emergencies, were vital in the Scottish response. I also pay tribute to our communities and the third sector for the innovative and creative ways that they responded to the demands of the pandemic. As set out in our national performance framework, the Scottish Government is committed, through our policies, to tackling persistent inequality.”
“There has already been joint working with the UK Government and the devolved Governments of Wales and Northern Ireland to deliver a four- nations concept of operations and exercise plan for UK-wide whole-system civil emergencies. Those actions address the findings and recommendations that are outlined in the report. Recommendation 10 requires the UK Government to consult with devolved Governments to create a statutory independent body for whole-system civil emergency preparedness and resilience. We are committed to working together to ensure that any new body is able to deliver its function in a manner that respects the devolution settlement. Our partners beyond Government are critical to delivering improvements on the ground, where the impact of emergencies is felt most starkly.”
“My Cabinet colleague Angela Constance, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, has responsibility for civil contingencies and is already working across Government to deliver the changes that we need. As we move forward, we must continue to work closely with our local, national and international partners to take the action that is needed to deliver on the inquiry’s recommendations. The changes that are needed to ensure our future preparedness cannot be made in isolation or by the Scottish Government alone, which is why, first and foremost, we are committed to working collaboratively with the UK Government.”
“Those affected by the pandemic, in particular those who bore some form of loss, have placed a great deal of trust in the Scottish Government, not just to take on the challenges that Covid-19 posed, but to be open about and accountable for our performance. That trust is of the utmost importance to the Scottish Government, and it has informed all our considerations of the chair’s findings and recommendations. The report set out 10 overarching recommendations. Our response, which has been published online today, sets out our commitments for action and the timescales in which we aim to achieve them. We will provide regular updates to the UK Covid-19 inquiry to demonstrate our progress on the recommendations.”
“We agree with the inquiry that changes are required in relation to those matters. Scotland faces a range of significant risks, from pandemics to the impacts of our ever-changing weather. We must learn from past events and global best practice to ensure that we are prepared and ready. The changes that we have committed to will ensure that we are better prepared for future pandemics, that we are better prepared for, and are able to respond to, a range of risks and threats, and that we can improve and strengthen our resilience as a nation. I am pleased that the Scottish Government has now published its response to the module 1 report and recommendations.”
“The inquiry’s report sets out its findings in detail, as well as the changes that it considers necessary to improve whole-system civil emergency planning and response in the UK to ensure that we are better prepared for, and are able to respond to and recover from, future emergencies. The findings and recommendations in the inquiry chair’s report cover a range of matters including governance and organisational structures; engagement and collaboration; risk assessment, including capacity and capabilities; the development of cohesive strategies to prevent, reduce, control and mitigate the effects of future whole-system civil emergencies; the use of data and research; pandemic exercising; scrutiny, accountability and transparency; and how we support those who are most vulnerable to risks.”
“The Covid-19 pandemic affected every aspect of life in Scotland, and its impact continues to be felt. Today, as always, our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones. We understand that, in recognition of the loss, hurt and suffering of the people of Scotland and the wider UK population, we must learn from past events and make effective, practical and measurable improvements in pandemic planning and preparedness. It is vital that we take steps to be as prepared as we can be for the future. In July last year, the UK Covid-19 inquiry published its report and recommendations in relation to module 1, which considered pre- pandemic resilience and preparedness.”
“Second homes and holiday homes bring tension, because they take away homes from local people, but, on the other hand, they bring tourism. Therefore, there needs to be a balance between family homes and the holiday rental sector. The cost of building small numbers of affordable houses in a community is expensive due to the lack of economies of scale so, when we add the cost of materials and labour, it is little wonder that rural housing money is being spent on the outskirts of cities. That is why we must protect local housing, especially homes that are built at public expense.”
“Rhoda Grant: I agree with the cabinet secretary—people in the area are dependent on vehicles, and I note that some of the measures that are used to pinpoint poverty take the view that someone who owns a car is not living in poverty, but the very opposite is true in many rural areas, where a car is a necessity. The report finds that the lack of affordable housing is also a main concern of young people, many of whom are not able to remain in their local areas or to return to live there after leaving. We know that many people in the Highlands and Islands leave to access education with the full intention of returning but are often unable to do so. That fuels depopulation and the loss of the Gaelic language and is adding to an increasing age demographic.”
“I am sure that Rhoda Grant will join me in acknowledging just how many people in the Highlands and Islands are in fuel poverty—I believe that the figure in the Western Isles is about 40 per cent and that 100,000 pensioners will receive a universal payment next year but will not receive one over this winter. The fuel rebate scheme for cars and vehicles is also critical in the wider context in relation to things such as the just transition, given that, at the end of the day, people in the Highlands and Islands are more dependent on vehicles. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I can give you the time back for the intervention, Ms Grant.”
“I have been very clear regarding the yard’s long- term future, and I am afraid that I am not going to deviate from this point: Ferguson Marine’s long- term future relies on it being able to competitively bid for work on the open market. To do that, it must be able to compete with other shipyards, and that is where the offer of investing in improving the yard’s productivity comes in. I see that as the means of enabling it to competitively bid. There is some work available in the pipeline, and Jamie Greene will understand that I would not want to divulge that in the chamber, as much of it is commercially sensitive, but all eyes and all focus are on this issue. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I know that we are over time, but I will squeeze in one supplementary.”
“Beyond the contracts that we currently know of, what is the Government doing to ensure that the yard secures the much-needed future contracts? The business plan was announced in July last year and a long time has passed since, but we are yet to see any real progress in securing more business for the yard. What is the cabinet secretary’s message to the workers of the yard, given that it is a strategic national asset? Kate Forbes: I hope that Jamie Greene will join me in this first message to the yard. He mentioned the Glen Rosa, and it would be fitting to acknowledge that the Glen Sannox has been in service this week. The skills and talent of the workforce were never in question, and the workforce is to be commended for its diligent work in getting that boat to sail this week.”
“I noted the Auditor General’s report, and I expect the Ferguson Marine board to carefully consider the points that the Auditor General raises. We are committed to supporting Ferguson Marine to reach a position where it can competitively bid for a range of projects and build a sustainable future. We have been working with the board to explore options to improve productivity. The member will already know about our commitment to invest up to £14.2 million in improving productivity, subject to due diligence. Jamie Greene: The Auditor General’s report was a stark reality check about the future of the yard. The reality is that, once the Glen Rosa has set sail from Greenock, the long-term contractual pipeline for the future of the yard is absolutely zero—it is zilch. Without a pipeline of work, the yard cannot see a long-term future.”
“Richard Leonard mentioned sustainable aviation fuel, which is one of a number of options that are actively being explored for the future. Sustainable aviation fuel may be more of a medium to long- term solution, and the Government needs to be clear on the options that we have to safeguard the site in the short term. I assure the member that all parts of the Scottish public sector, from Scottish Enterprise through to the Scottish Government, are invested in finding a solution and that we are keen to see the UK Government work with us to find that short- term solution.”
“A 2023 report commissioned by Scottish Enterprise concluded that Grangemouth was key to Scotland’s transition to sustainable aviation fuel. It is much more cost effective to convert an existing refinery to sustainable fuel than to build a new plant from scratch, and Grangemouth has the customer networks, the support of the community and the skilled workforce to make that work. Will the cabinet secretary tell the Parliament and those workers—who are now weeks away from redundancy—what the Government is doing to turn that plan into a reality? Kate Forbes: I know that the member is joined in raising the issue today by his member of Parliament colleague Brian Leishman, who is making the same point in the House of Commons. The point is a critical one, and we have said that we are willing to work with the UK Government on the issue.”
“In full recognition of the far-reaching impact that the refinery’s closure will have, we have engaged extensively across portfolios and with stakeholders to understand not only that impact—which we appreciate will be profound— but what can be done in order to alleviate it. The stakeholders that we have engaged with regarding the site’s future include Unite the union, the United Kingdom Government and Petroineos. At the moment, all our focus is on trying to reduce the impact and to find a long-term solution for the site. Richard Leonard: A report on sustainable aviation fuel and other biofuels production was handed to the First Minister by Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, back in November.”
“Just this morning, I met Wilkie, which is a Scottish business organisation with 160 years behind it that is based in Kirriemuir. It is expanding, creating hundreds of new jobs and attracting investment of £50 million. It is moving into the Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc in Dundee, which will restore the number of jobs that were lost when the Michelin factory closed down almost five years ago. That is an example of a Scottish business that has been highly successful on an international stage and is now growing, developing, putting us on the map and restoring jobs that have been lost.”
“I believe that Scotland is crying out for an industrial strategy that complements the need for inward investment and ensures a profit from Scotland’s resources that meaningfully benefits inwards and does not simply flow straight outwards, and is underpinned by a north star of serious commitment to nurturing success at all levels of Scottish business. The Government must ensure that economic benefits flow throughout Scotland to support world-class infrastructure, public services and community wellbeing. Will it now act like the independent nation that we want to be by committing fully to delivering a real plan of economic ambition for an independent Scotland? Kate Forbes: I agree that profit needs to benefit our communities and that we need to nurture success at every level.”
“We are taking action to boost economic growth, including the roll-out of our internationally recognised Techscaler programme for high-growth start-ups; a £500 million commitment to leverage private investment in offshore wind; and the connection of tens of thousands of households and businesses to gigabit-capable broadband. The progress that we have seen lays the foundations for Scotland’s long-term success. As Ash Regan will know—I hope that she will agree with this—we are tied to the United Kingdom Government’s economic model and are seeing some of the consequences thereof even in the most recent days. Independence will allow us to take economic powers into our own hands and build greater economic equality and wellbeing. Ash Regan: Economic stability and resource security are pressing priorities in a world of increasing volatility.”