Scotland’s Economy
Debate between Jamie Stone and Martin McCluskeyWestminster Hall is an alternative Chamber for MPs to hold debates, named after the adjoining Westminster Hall.
Each debate is chaired by an MP from the Panel of Chairs, rather than the Speaker or Deputy Speaker. A Government Minister will give the final speech, and no votes may be called on the debate topic.
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Martin McCluskey
Ports are essential to the future of our country, and coming from a constituency with an important and thriving port, I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend.
We are taking tough decisions, but change is under way and investment is now flowing into the country. Just yesterday, as many hon. Members have mentioned, the international investment summit brought the chief executives of hundreds of the world’s biggest companies to the United Kingdom. They announced £63 billion of investment and 38,000 jobs for the UK. The companies included Scottish Power and its parent company Iberdrola, which doubled their investment in the UK from £12 billion to £24 billion, and Greenvolt, which announced a £2.5 billion investment in Scotland. That will benefit the whole country.
Jamie Stone
I congratulate the Minister on his appointment; I am sure he will do a very good job indeed. I may be a Liberal Democrat, but I recognise that one of the greatest achievements for the highlands of the 1960s Labour Government was the establishment of the Highlands and Islands development board, which did a great deal to reverse depopulation. Today, under the auspices of the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise—its successor body—is a shadow of its ancestor. I wonder whether the Minister would agree to talk to the Scotland Secretary to see how, working with the Scottish Government, we can revitalise HIE.
Martin McCluskey
I understand the importance of the Highlands and Islands development board. My partner’s grandfather arrived in Scotland only because he was the chief engineer in the Cruachan power station. That part of my family is here because of the work of the Highlands and Islands development board, so I make the commitment to the hon. Member to speak to the Secretary of State about those issues.
Delivering significant change to Scotland’s economy means working in partnership across areas of policy, not just industrial policy and employment rights but planning, housing, skills and access to health services. Many of these areas are devolved, and we are committed to resetting the relationship between the UK and Scottish Governments. That does not mean that we will never disagree, but where we have shared goals, we should be able to work together. The Secretary of State for Scotland has already begun working with the Energy Secretary, Gillian Martin, and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes on a range of issues since coming to office.
One of those issues, which was mentioned by both my hon. Friends the Members for Glasgow East and for Edinburgh South West (Dr Arthur), was universities. I would agree with them that universities are a jewel in the crown of the Scottish economy. They drive innovation, create jobs and new businesses and deliver world-leading research and education. I know that the universities sector will be crucial to the future of the Scottish economy.