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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“At the same time, our plans for new vessel awards would support skilled employment and industrial capability in Inverclyde, where Ferguson Marine remains an essential part of the local economy and a shipyard of national industrial importance. I have spoken about investment in the yard and in new vessels, but I also place on record my sincere thanks to the workforce at Ferguson Marine. Through a prolonged period of challenge, scrutiny and uncertainty, they have continued to demonstrate professionalism, resilience and a deep commitment to their craft. Shipbuilding is highly skilled and demanding work that requires precision, teamwork and pride in delivery.”
“We are working with the yard to optimise sequencing and to develop an updated business plan that must undergo legal, commercial and subsidy control assessments before formal decisions on contract awards can be made. By linking workload to modernisation and governance, the yard would upgrade infrastructure, improve productivity and streamline production practices while vessel projects were under way. That approach would provide continuity for the workforce, stability for the supply chain and a stronger foundation for a competitive and sustainable future. The substantial proposals that we are announcing today would deliver for Ferguson Marine, for island communities and for Inverclyde. We are strengthening ferry resilience and connectivity for communities that rely on dependable services.”
“I have previously announced a commitment of up to £14.2 million over two years to support the modernisation of Ferguson Marine, which, again, is subject to due diligence in advance of formal investment decision making. In the current financial year, interim investment has focused on essential repairs, health and safety improvements and targeted equipment upgrades. Those measures were necessary to stabilise operations and support the delivery of the MV Glen Rosa, but they were not transformational. Further modernisation must be aligned with the needs of the proposed vessel delivery programme, so that investment supports efficient production and improved productivity. Our proposal to progress with four new directly awarded vessels provides the clarity that is needed to plan modernisation properly.”
“The proposed programme would provide a stable baseline that would allow the yard to plan its workforce, strengthen its supply chain and invest in improved ways of working. It would also provide the yard with an opportunity to re- establish itself as a credible and competitive shipbuilder by demonstrating consistent delivery, controlling costs and delivering vessels that perform in service. The proposed four-vessel programme would form the core of the yard’s workload over the next five years. Alongside that, the yard would continue to have capacity to take on other commercial work, where that can be planned and delivered without compromising the delivery of the public service vessels.”
“In several cases, the new vessels will replace vessels that were previously built at the yard, building on knowledge of similar vessel types and public service requirements. Thirdly, the proposed programme would support steady delivery, because a pipeline of vessels would allow the workforce to move from project to project and would support investment in training, apprenticeships and productivity. The proposed programme is intended as a bridge to the future, but it is not the limit of our ambition for Ferguson Marine. A sustainable shipyard must be able to win and deliver work beyond a single customer, so ministers intend to return the business to the private sector when the time is right.”
“A detailed due diligence process is under way in the Scottish Government to closely assess the viability and implications of the proposals, and engagement with the Competition and Markets Authority is among the steps that are required before any formal contract award decisions can be made. It is important to be clear about why the vessels in question are a strong fit for the yard and why we have confidence in Ferguson Marine to build them. First, they are of a scale and technical profile that match the yard’s facilities and workforce capability. The proposals are supported by strengthened governance and assurance, so that progress, costs and risks would be properly managed throughout delivery. Secondly, there is continuity of experience.”
“In her statement, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport set out that the Scottish Government proposes to directly award the contracts for two ferries under phase 2 of the small vessel replacement programme to Ferguson Marine. In addition, I can also announce that ministers propose to award contracts for a further two vessels to Ferguson Marine—replacements for the marine research vessel Scotia and the marine protection vessel Minna. Together, that represents a programme of four new vessels that it is proposed will be built in the yard. That is a substantial and clear demonstration of our confidence in Ferguson Marine. Ministers must, of course, ensure that public contracts are awarded in accordance with legal requirements and that they demonstrate value for communities and for the taxpayer.”
“As the Glen Rosa build enters its latter stages, we also need to address the longer-term future of the shipyard. A new senior leadership team is in place, with stronger commercial disciplines, clearer accountability and improved assurance reporting. Oversight has been strengthened and governance arrangements have been tightened. The annual accounts for 2024-25 and Audit Scotland’s accompanying report were published in December. Taken together, they demonstrate measurable improvement in governance and controls compared with previous years. Those arrangements are designed to support better planning, firmer cost control and more consistent delivery. It is on that strengthened foundation that I am now able to set out the next steps. Securing the long-term future of the yard requires a clear and credible pipeline of work.”
“The MV Glen Sannox has now completed her first year in service, and the MV Glen Rosa continues to make progress, with delivery anticipated to be in the fourth quarter of 2026. I recognise the frustration felt by the Parliament, island communities and the workforce as a result of the delays and cost pressures associated with the Glen Sannox and the Glen Rosa. I also recognise the impact on those affected, particularly the island communities that rely on the ferries for work, family life and essential services. Their frustrations are justified, and I understand the strength of feeling. Delivery challenges have rightly led to scrutiny of the yard’s performance and of past decisions. That scrutiny is both necessary and appropriate, but it is also a catalyst for change.”
“I welcome the opportunity to update the Parliament on Ferguson Marine. My statement will build on the Cabinet Secretary for Transport’s statement and set out clearly the Scottish Government’s commitment to doing all that we can to secure the yard’s long-term future. Ferguson Marine is the last commercial shipyard on the Clyde. It supports skilled employment in Inverclyde, and it plays an important role in Scotland’s wider industrial capability. In 2019, the Government brought the yard into public ownership to safeguard jobs and shipbuilding skills and to complete the Glen Sannox and the Glen Rosa. Our priority now is to secure a sustainable future for the yard, with clear work, improved delivery confidence and a modernised facility. Progress on current vessels is important context for the decision that I will set out.”
“I will address aspects of those in my comments, but I want to set out that there is a much longer-term opportunity to implement some of those recommendations, particularly in the light of the fact that there will be a new parliamentary session and, indeed, a new Government after the election—albeit, I hope, a Parliament with the same representatives.”
“I begin by thanking the committee for its detailed scrutiny of this important issue and for the considered set of conclusions and recommendations that it delivered in its report. There is a lot in the report that the Scottish Government agrees with, and I hope that, in the course of today’s debate, all parties across the chamber will be able to find common ground on how to improve the cost effectiveness of the public inquiry system in Scotland. I hear what the convener says about the areas where he is disappointed that more recommendations have not been accepted or have been only partially accepted.”
“On the point about investment, it is worth acknowledging that risk is inherent in the operational and independent investment decisions that the SNIB makes. However, part of the opportunity in a growth sector such as space is to provide patient capital and to take on risk where the market will not. That is what will drive faster growth in sectors such as the space sector.”
“How does the Government plan to support the space sector in the long term so that we do not see yet more projects going under, particularly in my region? Kate Forbes: I share Carol Mochan’s aspirations for the space sector, which we believe is a key priority for Scotland. It was identified as a key priority in the national strategy for economic transformation and in the innovation strategy. A lot of the support for the space sector has come out of those strategies. We are world leading in small satellite manufacturing, with Glasgow building more satellites than any other place in Europe. It is important that we continue to speak to the strengths of the space sector, while recognising the challenges that Carol Mochan has rightly identified.”
“Orbex entering administration is extremely disappointing, particularly for its workforce and the local community. As the constituency representative, Richard Lochhead has been engaging with me and the company, and I had a conversation just last week on the progress that is being made. The process is now being led by the administrator, and the position on any return to creditors, including the Scottish National Investment Bank, will become clear in due course. I am currently having weekly meetings with the administrator. Carol Mochan: It has been reported that £29 million was invested in Orbex via SNIB, all of which could potentially be lost. That follows the cancellation of the spaceport project in Prestwick in my region last year. A lot of public funds and a lot of jobs have been lost.”
“Secondly, on the point about financing, there are certainly options for us to consider, through the enterprise agencies and the Scottish National Investment Bank. On shipbuilding in particular, there is an opportunity to work closely with the UK Government’s National Shipbuilding Office to ensure that the Scottish shipbuilding industry benefits from the national and international opportunities of its shipbuilding strategy. We will continue to engage with the NSO, and I am more than happy to keep Mr Sweeney updated on the progress that we make.”
“Key instruments include the commercial interest reference rate ship financing programme, administered by the German state investment bank, which offers long-term fixed-rate loans for buyers of German-built ships. Will the Deputy First Minister commission a Government-led effort to build a similar state-backed financing scheme in Scotland that would give confidence to our remaining small commercial shipyards, including Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd? Kate Forbes: There are two parts to that question. First, I agree with Paul Sweeney that the strength of the workforce and the pipeline of orders that are coming through on the defence side are indicative of how much respect there is globally for the skills of Scottish shipbuilders.”
“Paul Sweeney: I share the Deputy First Minister’s enthusiasm and the impression that was created yesterday by the event at Rosyth dockyard to cut the first steel on the fourth Royal Navy type 31 frigate, HMS Bulldog. Shortly afterwards, the second ship in the class, HMS Active, was rolled out of the new indoor shipbuilding hall in dramatic fashion. Scotland is now at the forefront of Europe’s largest naval shipbuilding programme, but the contrast with the lack of commercial shipbuilding activity is stark. The main reason for that is the lack of state-backed finance for commercial shipbuilding projects. Germany has used state- backed finance for shipbuilding for at least 30 years.”
“We remain firmly committed to securing a sustainable, long-term future for shipbuilding in Scotland, which I know is very important to Mr Sweeney. We are actively engaging with the United Kingdom Government’s National Shipbuilding Office, which is exploring potential strategies for targeted financial interventions that may take place across the wider public sector and in the private finance space, to ensure that shipbuilding companies in Scotland remain competitive on a global scale. We also continue to engage with the UK Government on the review of the national shipbuilding strategy, emphasising Scotland’s strengths in shipbuilding and maritime technology. Paul Sweeney and I were both at an event yesterday that demonstrated how strong the Scottish shipbuilding sector is.”
“Has the Deputy First Minister yet heard from the United Kingdom Government as to whether it intends to match the Scottish Government’s support to help to deliver a just transition for Mossmorran? Kate Forbes: The short answer is no—I have not had any confirmation from the UK Government that it will, at least, match the Scottish Government’s commitment. I have called on the UK Government to do that and wrote again today to urge it to do so. It is particularly critical off the back of the debate last week in which the Parliament joined together to call on the UK Government to provide the additional support to match the Scottish Government’s support. I will continue to press the UK Government to match our commitment to the workers at”
“Last week, I confirmed that we will go beyond our £9 million commitment by extending targeted skills support to workers affected by the closure of the Mossmorran Fife ethylene plant, which was much due to the recommendations and representations that have been made by local members, including Annabelle Ewing, on behalf of the workforce. Using this year’s budget, we will provide training needs assessments, delivered by Fife College, for those facing redundancy. Annabelle Ewing: I of course very much welcome the Scottish Government’s original £9 million support package, plus the newly announced job-search support to be provided in tandem with Fife College.”
“I pay tribute again to the ExxonMobil and contractor workforce, who have made such a vital contribution to the Scottish economy and to whom we owe our support. I will continue engaging with all relevant stakeholders, partners and cross-party MSPs to shape how we deploy our significant funding support, with a view to securing the best possible future for the site and for the workforce. It is not too late for the UK Government to join us and match the Scottish Government’s support. I am more than happy, after listening to the debate, to respond to any specific questions in my closing remarks. I move amendment S6M-20820.3, to leave out from “and Scottish Government” to “deliver” and insert: “must match the Scottish Government’s support by urgently delivering”. 16:14”
“However, that mandate support does not offer much comfort to those who require financial support right now, so we call on UK ministers to urgently consider how to match the £9 million that is being provided by this Government over the next three years, and to match the funding that I have announced today to support the workers and to secure a prosperous future for the community. Our amendment recognises the announcement that I am making about accelerating funding to Mossmorran immediately this month, as well as the funding that is committed over the next three years and the need for the UK Government to join us, as it has done in relation to Grangemouth, in matching our funding, and maximising the support to Mossmorran workers.”
“The task force is meeting again in the next weeks, and Richard Lochhead attended the last one, with Chris McDonald, I believe, and made the case for additional funding. Secondly, I have also made the case, alongside the Secretary of State for Scotland and others, to recognise the value of match funding—at the very least, the £9 million— because it will go further. I know that other members in the chamber will share my desire for further funding to be provided by the UK Government. The UK Government will point out that its funding support to Ineos O&P at Grangemouth mandates that redundant Mossmorran workers be prioritised for new roles advertised by the business.”
“That critical first step will provide immediate support to eligible workers, while also informing what training provision can be put in place to support worker transition, as we continue to assess how best to deploy the committed funding next year and in subsequent years. I also confirm that my officials are working collaboratively with ExxonMobil to understand how the Scottish Government can supplement its funding provision in the next financial year. Mark Ruskell: I thank the Deputy First Minister for making that announcement. That will be welcomed by the workers. Has there been any conversation with Chris McDonald and the UK Government about what they might bring in alongside that to support communities and the workers? Kate Forbes: There are two forums where those conversations happen.”
“That includes £3 million in the next financial year to provide support to the workforce, and a further £3 million in the following year, 2027-28, and the third year, 2028-29, as we work to secure a sustainable future for the site. However, I am very pleased to announce today that the Scottish Government will go further by accelerating the deployment of funding to mobilise a more immediate skills intervention at Mossmorran this month. We believe that Fife College, as the local skills provider, is best placed to deliver that support, and it will begin work to commence targeted training needs and analysis for the first tranche of redundant workers in the coming days and weeks.”
“In addition, Scottish Enterprise is engaging with the company to understand the land and the site’s current status, and is assessing any early interest from investors who may be able to deploy new projects at Mossmorran. That work is at an early stage, but it has moved at rapid pace. I am optimistic that we will see new industry at the Mossmorran site. The motion calls on the Scottish and UK Governments to provide funding to support a just transition for the Fife ethylene plant workforce. I whole-heartedly endorse the sentiment that lies behind the motion. Members will be aware that the Scottish budget, which received cross-party support, commits to delivering a £9 million, three- year package of support to mitigate the impact of the plant’s closures.”
“ExxonMobil’s earlier than expected closure of the Fife ethylene plant remains a matter of deep disappointment. My thoughts remain with the workers who are directly affected by the decision. Members will appreciate that the Government’s focus since the announcement was made has been firmly on ensuring that existing workers have a secure and prosperous future. We activated our partnership action for continuing employment, which provides bespoke skills development and employability support to those who face redundancy. We have also been engaging extensively with key stakeholders—in particular, union and workforce representatives—since the closure announcement, to ensure that targeted support is in place to mitigate the worst impact of the site closure.”
“Only then will we be sure that the essence of our humanity that Mandela talked about—the fact that everyone, everywhere, in all aspects of our lives, has rights that must be respected—is truly at the heart of the laws and policies that we make. 19:45”
“That will be landmark legislation and will provide a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure that existing human rights and, I hope, many new rights will be at the heart of every public policy decision that is made. However, before we start on that bill, we must learn the lessons of this bill. We must use the new human rights bill to build a human rights culture in our public bodies; we must involve human rights experts more and earlier; and we must ensure that we have clear mechanisms, so that all the actions that we take and every piece of legislation that we pass are compatible with our human rights objectives.”
“As a result, it now protects the vital role of religious education in promoting religious understanding and tolerance in our plural society. I am also pleased that we will know more, and earlier, about potential clashes between existing legislation and the UNCRC. However, for the reasons that I mentioned earlier, and primarily because of the issues with part 1 of the bill, the balance is still, in our view, not quite right. At decision time this evening, we will not support the bill but will abstain. Had the bill been drafted through working more closely with children’s rights organisations from the start, it might have been a different story. I remain committed to supporting the introduction of a Scottish human rights bill in the next session of the Parliament and am hopeful that that can be done.”
“However, I remain disappointed that there will be no proactive auditing process to allow us to identify clashes before they happen and I still do not understand why the Scottish Government would not give the children’s commissioner the ability to refer legislation directly to the court for a decision on compatibility. Nelson Mandela told us: “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity”. That is why Greens have worked so hard to ensure that the rights in the bill are meaningful, are expanded and can be enforced by children and young people and by the organisations that represent them. Scottish Greens have worked hard with those children’s rights experts to make this well-meaning but flawed bill better.”
“I am addressing part 2 of the bill and we must ensure that all acts of the Scottish Parliament are compliant with UNCRC in the first instance, so that we build a human rights culture across our public bodies. That culture must respect the rights of children and young people as being absolutely prime and must ensure that the duties of public bodies are discharged in a way that respects those rights. The bill does not do that. Amendments made to the bill by me and by the cabinet secretary have addressed that problem in part. There will now be clear reporting mechanisms and public bodies will have to inform the relevant authorities when they are considering an action that is required by law but that might be contrary to UNCRC.”
“I understand the member’s point. There has been quite a move in recent years to remove religious observance from school or to assume that to be secular is to be neutral. Does the member agree that there should be genuinely free decision making, so that children can opt in or opt out and that religious observance enriches the lives of our young people? Maggie Chapman: I am talking about part 2 of the bill, which is not about religious observance. However, on that point, we believe that there should be separation of church and state. There is nothing in the bill to prevent religious observance by children and young people who wish to take part in the home or in other settings.”
“To conclude, Presiding Officer—you have been very generous with the time—I think that the cabinet secretary now realises in hindsight that ministers tried to sell the bill as being a minor technical reform, but that is not the case. It has the potential to negatively impact our school environment and, indeed, Scottish family life. The bill is a fundamental change in the relationship between parents, pupils and the state. It risks confusion for families, inconsistency across Scotland and unnecessary strain on overpressed schools and teachers. For those reasons, and because the balance struck in the final version of the bill does not adequately respect parental responsibility, the Scottish Conservatives will not support the bill at decision time. 19:16”
“The debate that we are having is about religious education and religious observance in a school setting, not about clubs that meet in a school. Miles Briggs: The Deputy First Minister has pointed towards that club being held in a school, and I imagine that that is likely to be discouraged, given that scenario. I am concerned about what a religious service, or a service in general, will look like. What will a Christmas service fundamentally have to become to incorporate everybody? For many rural village schools, the minister has always been connected to the school. I worry that the bill will start to unpick that.”
“I wonder what the member thinks of a story that a constituent shared with me. She runs a Christian kids’ club in her local primary school. A little child was coming along and enjoying it. The parent phoned the school up and said that they did not want the child going anywhere near a Christian religious group. The headteacher said that it is the child’s free choice whether or not to go. How does the member feel about that scenario? Miles Briggs: That is an individual case. Looking at how this will play out in the different scenarios that bureaucratic systems will look towards is very different. Martin Whitfield: Will the member take an intervention? The Presiding Officer: This will have to be very brief. Martin Whitfield: I am very grateful, Presiding Officer.”
“Does Craig Hoy accept that the one thing that this budget does do is add up, because it has to be balanced? Where would he find £1 billion? Craig Hoy: The Scottish Government is under a legal obligation to make sure that this budget balances, but—[Interruption.]—before Mr Swinney has a breakdown, I will say that it is being balanced using non-recurring revenues, by raiding the ScotWind money to pay for recurring revenues.”
“The energy profits levy, which was introduced by the Conservatives—although they seem to forget that fact—and which was extended and increased by Labour, is having a detrimental impact— [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear one another. Kate Forbes: —on the workforce in the north- east. The Aspect report, which cites how low business confidence is and the damaging effect of the energy profits levy, is aligned with what we hear from employers, who are regretfully having to let people go because of the energy profits levy. We have called on the United Kingdom Government to support the energy workforce. On that point, we are totally aligned with the unions, which are making the same call. [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: I would ask those who are shouting from their seats to cease.”
“Aspect’s report cites Labour’s tax on Scotland’s energy as having done “real damage to the UK’s reputation as a place to invest”. The Labour Party is distracted as it tears itself apart in a brutal civil war after Anas Sarwar’s botched coup attempt on his London Labour boss failed miserably. Meanwhile, Scotland’s energy sector is paying the price for Labour mismanagement. Will the Deputy First Minister pledge to continue to highlight the stupidity of Labour’s energy profits levy, to battle for change and to do all she can to protect jobs in Aberdeen and the north-east? The Presiding Officer: Please answer on matters of devolved responsibility. Kate Forbes: The short answer is yes.”
“The Scottish Government is ensuring that the transition to net zero delivers benefits for businesses and communities across the north- east. The £500 million just transition fund is already working to boost the economy in Aberdeen. We are working in partnership to deliver the £160 million investment zone, which will be key to the economy’s diversification through embracing entrepreneurship and innovation. We are also investing £125 million over 10 years in the Aberdeen city region deal, to grow the region’s economy by building on its strengths across the energy, life sciences and food and drink sectors. Kevin Stewart: This week, research by Aberdeen-based consultancy Aspect found that energy sector leaders described business confidence as “spectacularly low” and “back in 2015 crash territory”.”
“Will the member take an intervention? Stephen Kerr: In a second. It is ironic that, while we have been talking about those things, a local authority in Scotland is procuring food for meals on wheels from hundreds of miles away. Kate Forbes: Yesterday, I formally opened the new Inverness Castle Experience, which has a cafe with a menu that has a detailed description of where all the food comes from. Does Stephen Kerr welcome the fact that the vast majority of the food is local? Stephen Kerr: Hallelujah!”
“However, to respond directly to him, I can say that I absolutely believe in the strength of our cities in a global context: Aberdeen, in relation to the energy transition; Edinburgh, in relation to financial services; Dundee, in relation to life sciences; and Glasgow, in relation to culture and the growth that we have seen in financial services in particular. The strengths of our cities are incredibly impressive. Our commitment is to continue to empower the cities to make decisions that are appropriate for their areas.”
“My view is that having combined authorities and devolving powers from the centre around planning, skills and infrastructure have delivered higher growth. Although Scotland’s cities have real strengths and real proximity to each other—we have a Scottish powerhouse—I have to ask the Deputy First Minister, when was the last time that the Scottish Government had a cities policy? Kate Forbes: I know that Daniel Johnson always likes it when I say that I will take something away to think about, so I will say that I will think about his question.”
“The report is very interesting, and we read such reports with some interest. We have committed up to £1.9 billion of investment in city region and regional growth deals across Scotland. We are already seeing results, and that demonstrates the effectiveness of partnership working in upgrading public infrastructure and driving growth in our cities and regions. Daniel Johnson: According to the report, Scottish cities have seen a real-terms fall in disposable income since 2013. If Scottish cities had grown at the rate of the best-performing English cities, people in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee would be £12,000 a year better off. That is not random. Indeed, Scottish cities grew more quickly in the previous decade, so what changed?”
“We hope that that will ensure that Scottish exports continue to grow and that the value of those exports for Scotland and for Scotland’s economy continues to grow. “Cities Outlook 2026” 8.”
“Kate Forbes: We are very conscious that Scottish firms are affected by the fact that there is quite a degree of instability around the world. Obviously, US tariffs are having an impact on some of those companies. The Government is committed to ensuring that we open up new markets and support companies that want to export. Companies can take advantage of a range of export support that is provided by Scottish Development International, which includes bespoke export programmes and trade missions and access to our network of overseas trade specialists. I know from having spoken directly to a number of the companies that were in the UAE that each of them could reference specific advantages that they had secured as a result of doors being opened through that trade mission.”
“Our trade mission to the UAE enabled almost 30 Scottish companies to showcase Scotland’s strengths in energy transition, agritech, food and drink and critical technologies. Six Scottish universities joined the programme, which included official events and bilateral business meetings. I also held a number of meetings with UAE Government ministers and signed a bilateral investment memorandum of understanding, to deepen investment co-operation. The economic outcomes for Scottish companies off the back of the week in the UAE are extremely strong. Rona Mackay: Does the Deputy First Minister have further details on what specific support is available to help small Scottish firms to secure international contracts in that market over the coming year?”
“Agencies such as the Scottish National Investment Bank are making mission-aligned investments across Scotland to grow the economy. The bank recently celebrated its five- year anniversary. Its investments have already crowded in more than £1.4 billion of third-party co- investment.”
“Paul McLennan: Will the Deputy First Minister highlight the key sectors that will benefit from the bonds programme and explain how other Government agencies, such as the Scottish National Investment Bank and the Scottish Futures Trust, can help to leverage in additional funds? Kate Forbes: The bonds programme will support a number of sectors across Scotland. Obviously, it underpins the infrastructure delivery pipeline. Although it is difficult to distinguish between sectors that might benefit from, for example, improvements to core infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, the programme includes key investments in projects that will improve our transport, boost digital connectivity, modernise the justice system and enhance health and education facilities.”