Question reference: S6W-26803
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 11 April 2024
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Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 29 April 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on its engagement with the UK Government regarding any implications for Scotland of the Harrington Review of Foreign Direct Investment.
Answer
The Scottish Government and its partners have regular engagement with the UK Government to ensure a strategic approach and alignment of activity around Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
We welcome the recommendations from the Harrington Review to increase investment and expansion of the Office for Investment (OFI) and to improve collaboration and understanding of investment strengths between the UK Government and Devolved Administrations through the appointment of regional specialists. We have been engaging with the UK Government on the Review and Scottish Development International now has a dedicated resource in place at the OFI to support collaboration around attracting further investment opportunities to Scotland.
Scotland has a strong record in attracting FDI and our Inward Investment Plan is key to supporting Scotland’s growth clusters. EY’s independent Annual Attractiveness Survey 2023 shows that Scotland has been the most attractive investment location outside of London for the last eight years.