Scotland’s Economy

Kirsty Blackman Excerpts

Tuesday 15th October 2024 Westminster Hall

[Kirsty Blackman (Aberdeen North) (SNP)]

I appreciate your taking the time to chair this debate so excellently, Mr Dowd. I congratulate the hon. Member for Glasgow East (John Grady) on his speech. I am glad and relieved to hear that he is not proposing to marry me. I am married already, but I appreciate that he considered it, however briefly.

The hon. Gentleman mentioned Aberdeen as one of Scotland’s great cities; Aberdeen is the greatest city. I am literally here to say that. It is the greatest city not just in Scotland, but in the entire world. If anybody would like to spend time in Scotland, I thoroughly recommend Aberdeen. Thankfully, it is where Labour have chosen to put GB Energy. That makes a huge amount of sense, because we have been at the forefront of energy generation and subsea technology for so many years. The level of skills and expertise in and around Aberdeen is unparalleled.

We are, however, at a tipping point. There is a see-saw, where we need to see growth in jobs in renewable energy. I appreciate the comments and commitments that the Government are making, but if the change is to happen, we cannot lose the skills we have in oil and gas, because those people will go abroad to use their skills. We need to have that see-saw effect. We cannot pull oil and gas down in advance of putting renewables up. I have spoken incredibly passionately and regularly on climate change and the need to meet our targets, but the UK Government must consider the gap there will be in the middle if they choose to take action too quickly without ramping up jobs in renewables.

I am pleased to hear the commitment to a Scottish visa. I am really excited that we will have our own immigration system that works for the needs of the people of Scotland, rather than the populism of how the UK Government think that things should be for people in the south of England.

[Several hon. Members rose—]

--- Later in debate ---

[Martin McCluskey]

The food and drink sector will play a crucial role in the future of the Scottish economy. I am referring not just to the whisky sector, which my hon. Friend has mentioned and which I know he plays a key role in championing through the Scotch whisky all-party parliamentary group, but to other sectors, such as our great salmon sector. There are a lot of other opportunities in food, drink and tourism whereby the Scottish economy can thrive in years to come.

One area of Scotland’s economy on which the Governments have worked closely together in recent months has been the response to the commercial decision of Petroineos to end oil refining at Grangemouth. The oil refining operation has played an important role in Grangemouth’s economy for more than 100 years. However, as a clear sign of how we can work together for the Scottish people, the UK and Scottish Governments have announced a joint £100 million package to help to secure Grangemouth’s industrial future and protect its skilled workforce. Scotland has a proud industrial past, as we have heard from many hon. Members this morning, and, as part of the transition to net zero, it will have a bright industrial future, and one that will guarantee jobs and wealth for families for generations to come.

[Kirsty Blackman]

In relation to that transition, while the hon. Gentleman is in the mood for making commitments, will he commit to speaking to the Chancellor about the Scottish carbon capture cluster and the fact that it is looking for an outward show of confidence from the Government? I am not asking him to push for money today, but positivity about progressing the Scottish cluster for carbon capture would be incredibly helpful for the industry.