Official Report 1027KB pdf
Good morning. The first item of business is general question time.
Nuclear Safety Event (Faslane)
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any potential environmental impact, what its response is to reports that a category A nuclear safety event occurred at Faslane naval base between January and April this year. (S6O-04914)
Defence, including the operation of the Faslane naval base, is a reserved matter. However, the Scottish Government places great importance on the safe, secure and responsible management of radioactive substances while protecting people and the environment. Therefore, repeated reports of serious incidents at Faslane are extremely worrying.
Of course, the only way to get rid of Trident is with independence. The Scottish National Party Scottish Government’s long-standing position is that nuclear weapons have no place in an independent Scotland.
Has the Westminster Government made any information available to the Scottish Government on addressing the radioactive waste that was released by the nuclear safety failure and on the work of cleaning the affected area and ensuring the physical health of local residents following the event?
In short, the answer is no. It is regrettable that the Ministry of Defence has not released details of the reported category A nuclear site event report, given that the MOD defines category A as the most serious. It has informed us that the incident posed no risk to the public and did not result in any radiological impact to the environment. However, the Scottish Government has not received any further information on the nature of the incident. Given that nuclear weapons are an ever-present danger, that is disappointing and it does not provide the public with the reassurance that they need. The MOD has also informed us that the incident that was reported was handled in accordance with the extant policy and in collaboration with the defence nuclear safety regulator, but that is the sum of it.
I agree with the cabinet secretary that it is extremely concerning that there has been a category A safety event at Faslane. It certainly brings Scotland’s environmental risks from nuclear weapons into sharp focus.
With the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s draft strategy 2025 proposing a transfer of defence nuclear liabilities, including the Vulcan naval reactor test establishment, into the civil sector, will the Scottish Government step up to ensure that Scotland does not inherit Westminster’s nuclear legacy in secret? Will the cabinet secretary make a commitment to have a full debate in the Parliament so that we can scrutinise things such as risk assessments before any decisions are made?
I need to go into the detail of what Ash Regan has just put forward, but I am always willing to have a debate on the issue, as it concerns many people throughout Scotland. Although there is an agreement between the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Ministry of Defence on reporting such incidents and the impact that they have, it is worrying that such events happen in the first place.
I believe that Bill Kidd has lodged a motion for a members’ business debate on the issue. I hope that it will get the support across the chamber that it deserves.
Entrepreneurship
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting entrepreneurship. (S6O-04915)
Recent Tech Nation data shows that Scotland’s start-up economy is booming, with our 19 per cent growth rate among the fastest in Europe. Our ambition is to establish Scotland as one of Europe’s fastest-growing start-up economies. That is backed by a record £30 million of investment this year, including a £2.9 million proof-of-concept fund translating research discoveries into commercial propositions.
We also continue to support Techscaler, which is among Europe’s best start-up incubators, and one of this Government’s finest achievements.
The NatWest accelerator programme has already supported more than 10,000 new businesses, created 12,000 jobs and driven £700 million-worth of investment, which should be celebrated. However, businesses throughout Scotland consistently raise concerns about a fragmented funding landscape, overly complex procurement processes and the sheer number of agencies that they are expected to navigate—more than 300 in total. Does the Deputy First Minister agree that business support must be simplified and streamlined to ensure that entrepreneurs are better supported to make their ambitions a reality?
The very principle that underpins Maurice Golden’s question is what prompted Mark Logan to design the blueprint that we have been putting into place over the past few years. For example, the compound annual growth rate of key European start-up economies shows that the approach taken to streamlining is working. I mentioned Scotland’s 19 per cent growth rate, and I would compare that with the United Kingdom’s rate of 12.5 per cent, France’s 12 per cent, Sweden’s 10 per cent and the 10 per cent rate in the Netherlands. There is still work to be done, but bringing everything together into Techscaler is one example of what we are doing.
Equally, in an adaptable and innovative market, we do not want to micromanage the process. I believe that our approach is working, but we need to collaborate with NatWest and others. NatWest’s figures from earlier this year showed, again, that we are continuing to grow one of the highest start-up rates in the United Kingdom.
I welcome the record funding for entrepreneurism that the Scottish Government is investing this year, which comes alongside the news that Scotland is now the fastest-growing start-up nation in Europe. Can the Deputy First Minister say any more about the renewed support that the Scottish Government is providing to start-ups and about any collaboration with the private sector?
I thank Audrey Nicoll for the point about collaboration with the private sector. One of the best examples in recent weeks has been the commitment to co-invest in Scottish EDGE. We have committed to investing £3.6 million in Scottish EDGE over the next three years, which means that leading entrepreneurs have committed additional funding to Scottish EDGE, too. Moreover, our risk capital market grew 19 per cent to £704 million, with significant private sector participation. All those are examples of what is actually happening; in other words, it is all about looking at outcomes and outputs, instead of focusing just on the inputs.
Motorway Gantry Signage
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Transport Scotland about motorway gantry signage. (S6O-04916)
The messages displayed on electronic signs on gantries are part of the Traffic Scotland service that is provided by Transport Scotland. Traffic Scotland gathers real-time information on Scotland’s trunk road and motorway network, which informs the messaging displayed on gantries.
Messages can include information on reduced speed limits, on implementation of lane restrictions or on incidents or congestion ahead. Those messages are deployed as soon as possible after verification and aim to reduce the disruption caused by trunk road closures, congestion, events, roadworks, adverse weather, accidents and other incidents.
When gantry signs are not being used to support high-priority operational responses such as those that I have mentioned, background safety information is displayed to coincide with topical events or other areas of road safety focus. Those messages are reviewed annually by Traffic Scotland.
I asked the same question of the cabinet secretary in June 2023 and of her predecessor, Humza Yousaf, in 2017, and I am asking again on behalf of my constituents in Mid Scotland and Fife who make extensive use of the M90 and M9 motorways. There are still issues with gantry signs that are not time sensitive—indeed, I have seen that for myself—and about information being displayed about congestion or queues ahead when there are no such things. That is unhelpful to drivers, who have to make a decision about which roads they are going to take. This time of asking, I ask the cabinet secretary this: will she assure those constituents that she will press Transport Scotland to do something about this on-going problem?
It is important that dynamic messaging is timely and accurate, because driver frustration, whether it be Ms Smith’s or that of others, should be avoided. Thousands of messages are displayed and removed daily in response to changing and dynamic situations.
When Ms Smith last wrote to me on this issue, we asked for specific occurrences, because that information can help improve quality control. Traffic Scotland undertook quality checks in November 2023 following Ms Smith’s intervention, and my officials have recently instructed Traffic Scotland to undertake further sample checks of sign setting and removal on the motorway network, including between Fife and Edinburgh. That process is on-going. Traffic Scotland welcomes reports, which are helpful, as any specific examples, particularly during weekdays, allow it to pinpoint the exact issues.
I should say that Traffic Scotland’s website will be unavailable between 13 and 16 September due to essential building work at the national control centre. The information has already been advertised, but I just add it here as a public information notice.
Community Facilities
To ask the Scottish Government what support it can offer to help local authorities protect council-run and arm’s-length external organisation-run community facilities. (S6O-04917)
The Scottish Government recognises the critical role of community facilities across Scotland and provided a record local government settlement in 2025-26. That record funding helps local authorities to support their local priorities, which includes both council and external-led community facilities. We will continue to work in partnership with local government to ensure that the people of Scotland continue to receive the high-quality public services that they expect and deserve.
The Scottish National Party will tell me that council funding has gone up, but that only brings a wry smile to the face of councillors in Scotland, because the truth is that cliff-edge finances are leaving some vital community facilities in wrack and ruin. That includes facilities that are in or close to the First Minister’s constituency, such as the Dewars centre, where the ice rink is still under threat, and, more importantly, those in Moray, where Moray leisure centre has temporarily closed its ice rink, to the shock of local users. Curling, ice hockey and ice skating are all sports that we should be encouraging. Will the cabinet secretary ensure that councils do all that they can to find new ways to support vital facilities such as Moray leisure centre to remain open?
Let me put a couple of facts on the record. First, local government funding has increased.
So has demand!
Let us not shout across the chamber.
The Accounts Commission has confirmed that, for the past two years, there has been a real-terms increase to local government funding. That is a fact. Moray Council has received an additional 6.6 per cent compared with its funding for 2024-25. I point out to Tim Eagle that the Tories run Moray Council, so perhaps he should have a word with the Conservative leadership of the council.
On ice rinks, I appreciate that the curling community in Elgin in particular will have significant concerns. We are aware of the challenging financial circumstances that face energy-dense sports and leisure facilities. Moray leisure trust has stated that the closure of the Elgin ice rink is a result of increasing energy costs. The United Kingdom Government has the ability to provide appropriate energy bill relief to facilities that require it. We will consider how we can continue to raise such concerns with the UK Government, and sportscotland continues to engage with Moray leisure trust, Scottish Curling and key partners to understand the current situation locally. Those discussions will continue.
Scotch Whisky Industry
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the economy secretary and business minister have had with the United Kingdom Government regarding tariff exemptions and other support for the Scotch whisky industry. (S6O-04918)
My ministerial colleagues and I regularly meet those in the sector to discuss the challenges and opportunities that they face. In July, I wrote to the responsible UK Government minister to call for action on several trade issues that the Scotch whisky sector faces, as do those producing other iconic Scottish products. As members will be aware, the First Minister has been leading from the front on our intensive engagement with the sector. He has also raised the important issue with the Prime Minister and, this week, directly with the US President. Removing the 10 per cent tariff barrier between the US and Scotland would, of course, deliver economic benefits for both countries.
The Scotch Whisky Association recently released new data that shows that more than 1,000 jobs have been lost in the Scotch whisky industry since the most recent United Kingdom budget. In addition to the excise duty increase, the UK Labour Government introduced a national insurance increase, and energy prices remain too high, impacting energy-intensive industries that can access no support.
Ahead of the next UK budget, what representations will the Scottish Government make to the UK Government to ensure that our economy and businesses are better supported to weather difficult economic headwinds?
Gordon MacDonald raises good points. Last night, along with many other members, I was at an event that was hosted by the Scotch Whisky Association in Edinburgh, and I can say that the First Minister’s standing up for the sector and taking its case directly to Washington went down like a fine dram with the industry. We now need the same approach from the UK Government to deliver on the tariff deal—it now has an opportunity to do that—and to address issues such as the alcohol duty, because the reduction in draught duty in the last budget increased the disadvantage that the spirits sector faces in our country and the inherent unfairness in the alcohol duty system.
Other issues, such as the rise in national insurance contributions, also affect the hospitality sector and, in turn, the Scotch whisky industry. Like Gordon MacDonald, I hope that the UK Government will now stand up for the whisky industry and address those issues in its forthcoming budget.
I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests in relation to hospitality that I have received from the Scotch Whisky Association.
I join my fellow co-convener of the cross-party group on Scotch whisky in welcoming any moves to reduce damaging tariffs and costs on the industry. However, I am surprised that the minister cannot see the contradiction in the Scottish National Party position. If we were members of the European Union, as the SNP demands, we would currently be facing 15 per cent tariffs on Scotch whisky exports, not the 10 per cent that we have as part of the United Kingdom. It is only Brexit freedoms—which we would not have if we were in the EU—that give us the opportunity to negotiate away those tariffs. [Interruption.]
Let us hear one another.
When is the SNP going to rethink its damaging policy on rejoining the EU, which would cause such destruction in the Scotch whisky sector?
If Murdo Fraser was paying attention, he would know that the Scottish Government does not want any tariffs on Scotch whisky, be they 15 per cent or 10 per cent. Just as his Government for many years failed the Scotch whisky industry in relation to the 75 per cent duty that was placed on every bottle of Scotch whisky, thanks to his party, the current UK Government has a lot to do if it is going to stand up for the Scotch whisky industry. It can address that in its forthcoming budget, as well as by following in the footsteps of the First Minister by raising the tariff issue with the United States and concluding the deal, now that the First Minister has set the scene for it.
High Street Businesses
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to develop year-round support for, and promotion of, high street businesses, in light of the recent Scotland loves local week. (S6O-04919)
Scotland loves local week was a fantastic opportunity to spotlight the year-round campaign that encourages people to shop in their local businesses. Mechanisms such as the Scotland loves local gift card scheme and awards encourage people to think about what they are spending so that they spend more locally. The campaign also recognises that local businesses are crucial in retaining wealth in our local economy and encouraging vibrancy in our town centres.
Over the past year, Go Forth Stirling BID has reported 26 new business openings in Stirling, including international brands and small independents. Will the minister join me in celebrating those new openings and say what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number of long-term empty units on our high streets?
I join Evelyn Tweed in celebrating the new businesses in her constituency. It was fantastic to see last week that the statistics for new businesses being created in Scotland were much higher in the first half of this year than they were in the first half of last year. It is also striking to note that the largest share of that increase was in hospitality. That is good news for that sector and for the Scottish economy.
The Scottish Government will continue to work with local authorities on our competitive rates regime, which gives flexibility to local authorities to address the issue of empty and vacant units on our high streets.
University of Dundee (Finances)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the University of Dundee and the Scottish Funding Council regarding the university’s financial situation. (S6O-04921)
Since my statement to the Parliament in June, I have visited the university and held several meetings with the university’s leadership and the Scottish Funding Council, and I have also engaged with trade unions and local MSPs, including Mr Rennie. My officials are holding weekly trilateral meetings with the SFC and the university.
A university recovery plan was submitted to the SFC in August, and the SFC wrote to the university a week later with an alternative approach. All parties are now urgently working towards an agreed way forward that will ensure a long-term managed recovery.
Ministers continue to say that the situation is urgent, but we are almost a year on from when we first discovered the depths of the problem at the University of Dundee. We need a sustainable recovery plan for the university. When will that happen?
I thank Mr Rennie for his interest. He will be aware of my engagement with him and with the university’s leadership and the Scottish Funding Council throughout the summer recess. We will meet again next week.
We are working at pace with the SFC and the university, but it is for the university to come back with an alternative approach. We expect to receive that alternative approach next Monday.
I have committed to meeting Mr Rennie and colleagues from across the affected region next week, along with the Scottish Funding Council. It is imperative that we find an approach for Dundee university that has the buy-in of the wider university community, including staff and students—they are fundamental to that—and, of course, the approach must have the backing of the court, leading with a clear mandate. I look forward to our engagements next week.