Debate: Scotland’s Economy, Opportunities for Growth

Keith Brown S5M-06045 That the Parliament recognises that Scotland’s economic fundamentals remain strong with opportunities for growth; welcomes the fact that Scotland has closed the gap in productivity performance with the UK as a whole, the continued attractiveness of Scotland’s economy for inward investment and, in particular, the recent analysis by Ernst and Young, which shows that Scotland attracted more research and development foreign direct investment projects than anywhere else in the UK in 2016; recognises and acknowledges the challenges facing Scotland’s economy, in particular from the downturn in the oil and gas sector and the damage that will be caused by the UK Government taking Scotland out of the EU and the single market; believes that Scotland must continue to invest for sustainable and inclusive growth by promoting and supporting innovation, investment and internationalisation, as set out in Scotland’s Economic Strategy; highlights the important contribution that European structural and investment funds make to support sustainable and inclusive growth in Scotland, and calls on the UK Government to commit to ensuring that it replaces this funding in full following Brexit. Dean Lockhart S5M-06045.1 As an amendment to motion S5M-06045 in the name of Keith Brown (Scotland’s Economy, Opportunities for Growth), leave out from "that Scotland's economic" to end and insert "opportunities for growth in Scotland’s economy; welcomes the continued attractiveness of Scotland for inward investment; acknowledges the many challenges facing Scotland’s economy, including negative economic growth and low business confidence; considers that these can be addressed by the introduction of a more competitive tax system in Scotland and by the Scottish Government removing the uncertainty of a second referendum on independence; believes that Scotland can best achieve sustainable and inclusive growth, and increase innovation, investment and internationalisation through active cooperation and participation in a UK-wide industrial strategy, and supports the objectives of the UK Government in achieving the maximum possible access to the European single market while maximising the opportunities afforded by fostering stronger trading relationships with the rest of the world.'' Jackie Baillie S5M-06045.3 As an amendment to motion S5M-06045, Keith Brown (Scotland’s Economy, Opportunities for Growth), leave out from "economic fundamentals" to end and insert "economy remains fragile, with no growth in the fourth quarter of 2016 and that growth in Scotland has lagged behind the UK for a number of years; further recognises the challenges Scotland faces in particular from the downturn in the oil and gas sector; considers that the previous UK administration's approach to a hard Brexit is a major challenge to the Scottish economy and should be abandoned; believes that the Scottish Government's Economic Strategy must be urgently reassessed, and notes the Fraser of Allander Institute comments that 'all of the [Scottish] government's economic strategy priorities - internationalisation, innovation, investment and inclusive growth - have been turned on their head by the decision to leave the EU. It is simply not possible to continue as normal. An urgent review of current policy initiatives is needed'; further believes that the growth of Scotland’s economy should be inclusive so that everyone benefits and people and jobs are put first; considers that the Scottish Government should accelerate investment in infrastructure, innovation and research to nurture business growth, stimulate the economy and create jobs; further considers that the Scottish Government should ensure that a real living wage of £10-an-hour is paid in all public procurement and commissioning contracts; regrets that the Scottish Business Pledge has not been widely taken up; considers that the Scottish Government’s continued priority of a second independence referendum, which was rejected at the General Election, creates uncertainty for business and households, and therefore commits the Scottish Government to abandon its plans for a second independence referendum.” Patrick Harvie S5M-06045.4 As an amendment to motion S5M-06045, Keith Brown (Scotland’s Economy, Opportunities for Growth), leave out from "economic fundamentals" to end and insert "economy must serve the needs of citizens now and in the future by respecting the limited resources of the planet; notes Scotland’s continued overdependence on the fossil fuel industry and considers that this is a source of significant vulnerability; considers that the GDP growth of an economy is a poor indicator of the wellbeing of its citizens or the health of the ecosystem that sustains them; urges the Scottish Government to build on the steps that it has taken with the National Performance Framework and develop a comprehensive approach to measuring meaningful economic progress instead of continuing to place undue emphasis on GDP growth, and considers that economic development must focus on creating well-paid work, building local economies, ensuring fair redistribution of wealth, and developing low-carbon industries as a replacement for, rather than an addition to, the role of fossil fuels in Scotland’s economy." Willie Rennie S5M-06045.2 As an amendment to motion S5M-06045 in the name of Keith Brown (Scotland’s Economy, Opportunities for Growth), leave out from “welcomes the fact” to end and insert “however, recognises that official figures show Scotland on the brink of a recession while Ernst and Young reports that the Scottish economy is 'stuck in the slow lane'; believes that repeated warnings about the fragility of the economy and business confidence have been dismissed; recognises and acknowledges the challenges facing Scotland’s economy, including the threat of another divisive independence referendum, a hard Brexit and skills shortages, and believes that a long-term plan to build a strong economy must include the removal of the threat of a referendum on Scottish independence and avoiding a hard Brexit, combined with transformative additional investment in education and a step-change in mental health to help people achieve their potential and enable businesses to find the skills they need."