Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth
Employment Initiatives (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley)
To ask the Scottish Government what employment initiatives it is supporting in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency. (S4O-02777)
The Scottish Government supports a range of employment initiatives across the South Ayrshire Council and East Ayrshire Council areas, including: youth employment Scotland fund support, with bids from local authorities for up to 865 places; up to 50 community jobs Scotland places this year; and 569 modern apprenticeship and 637 employability fund starts across the two local authority areas between April and September 2013. In addition, the Scottish Government provided funding of up to £129,000 to East Ayrshire and up to £116,000 to South Ayrshire to support the delivery of opportunities for all—our guarantee of education or training for any young person aged 16 to 19 who is not in work, education or training.
Will the cabinet secretary say to what extent the initiatives are addressing the economic vulnerability of towns in my constituency, notably Girvan, Cumnock and Maybole, which were identified in the report, “Rural Scotland in Focus 2012”? The report highlighted the disadvantages that are experienced by rural areas in south-west Scotland. What plans does the Scottish Government have to address further and remove such vulnerability?
I understand the issues that Mr Ingram raised on behalf of his constituents. He and I participated some time ago in a discussion with local representatives in his constituency about some of the economic challenges to which he refers.
The measures that I mentioned are all designed to have a fundamentally local focus, to ensure that practical and accessible local initiatives can be taken forward in smaller localities, such as the towns, villages and smaller settlements that make up Mr Ingram’s constituency, in a way that is consistent with our approach to tackling the economic challenges that exist.
Of course, the Government takes a wider approach, for example through its investment in housing stock and the work that Mr Ewing is taking forward to tackle the issues and difficulties that have emerged in the opencast coal sector.
In all those respects, the Government has a very focused agenda. There are region-wide initiatives and locally focused initiatives to support the economy in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency.
Ortak Jewellery Ltd (Closure)
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to assist the staff of Ortak Jewellery Ltd following the company’s closure. (S4O-02778)
I was saddened to learn of the situation at Ortak, which is of major concern. On 8 January I spoke to James Stephen at BDO Accountants and Advisers, who advised me that trading would continue while efforts are made regarding the sale of elements of the business. We are supporting those efforts, through our agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I also made the offer of support through our partnership action for continuing employment initiative, for any staff who might be affected by redundancy, and I stressed the need for the PACE team to have early access to provide support.
I very much appreciate the minister’s comments and thank him for his involvement and support. I also thank his officials in HIE, in Orkney in particular, for their work in recent days. I welcome the commitment from the First Minister last week to support the staff who are affected and to support any viable bid to safeguard the manufacturing jobs that are based in the islands that I represent.
I know that the minister cannot comment on the detail of the case. However, does he agree that the importance of those manufacturing jobs in particular, not just to Ortak but to the many small jewellery businesses in Orkney that rely on the facility for castings and other vital work, should not be underestimated and underscores the importance of doing everything possible to support a viable bid?
I acknowledge the hard work that Liam McArthur has put in on this issue on behalf of his constituents, as is right and proper, and the private discussions that we have had. I will continue to ensure that I am fully abreast of developments with HIE and the administrator and to communicate with Mr McArthur.
To answer Mr McArthur’s question, yes, I agree. It is important that we make all reasonable and proportionate efforts to ensure that manufacturing capability is preserved in Orkney, which has a reputation for distinction in providing high-quality jewellery, not only in Ortak but in Sheila Fleet.
Compulsory Purchase Orders (Complaints)
To ask the Scottish Government how the subject of a compulsory purchase order can complain about how the process is being conducted. (S4O-02779)
Complaints should be directed to the public body pursuing the compulsory purchase order. Where someone is not happy with the outcome, the matter may be referred to the Scottish public services ombudsman.
I have been approached by two constituents whose home is set to be demolished to make way for a building project. While they were disappointed about having to leave their home of 31 years, they did not object to the compulsory purchase order and the property was acquired by the Scottish ministers in January 2013 on the understanding that my constituents would not be required to vacate it until August 2014. However, that date has subsequently changed three times in two months and it is now demanded that they leave their home by the end of January.
My constituents are appalled that the original arrangement has not been honoured. Does the minister agree that the situation is fundamentally unfair? Will he agree to look at the case in person? What opportunities do my constituents have to complain in detail about how the CPO process, once agreed, is being conducted and the conduct of the officials involved?
If it is appropriate and is not subject to any other complaints procedure, I am happy to make ministerial inquiries into the case to ensure that everything that was agreed to be done has been done.
In more general terms, I am confident and satisfied that the processes in place both to challenge and complain about compulsory purchase orders are sufficient, as they have been reviewed. We are trying to streamline and simplify the process, while guaranteeing the safeguards that we would expect to be in place. However, if it is in order, I will certainly look into the individual case, if Alison McInnes would be so kind as to write to me about it.
Opencast Coal Industry (Unrestored Sites)
To ask the Scottish Government what response it has received from the United Kingdom Government to its request that money collected from the opencast coal industry in Scotland should be made available to fund the legacy of Scotland’s unrestored opencast sites. (S4O-02780)
I wrote to the UK Government on 17 September 2013 and again on 20 November 2013 requesting that royalties collected by the UK Coal Authority for coal produced in Scotland be made available now to help to fund or part-fund the restoration of legacy opencast sites across Scotland. On 8 January 2014, a holding response was received from Michael Fallon, the UK energy minister, to say that that request is being actively pursued with the UK Treasury. We will continue to pursue this line of inquiry with the UK Government.
The minister will understand that the Westminster Government has taken around £15 million from the opencast industry and that there has been no return to the industry or the environment in respect of those payments. Does he agree that that money could make a significant contribution towards the restitution of opencast sites?
Yes, I do. I was pleased that all parties in the task force, which has cross-party representation—including Mr Fraser, who is in the chamber today, and Labour members—agreed that we should pursue this matter in a reasonable way. There is an extremely strong case that that money—£15 million, as Christina McKelvie says—should be used for the enormous challenges that we face in tackling the restoration of opencast mines in Scotland.
That £15 million is money that has been paid from the mines since the privatisation of the coal industry in the early 1990s. Unless it is simply a tax, surely there is a strong moral and reasonable case that that money should be put to good use to meet, in part, the substantial costs of restoration throughout this country.
Question 5 has been withdrawn.
Oil and Gas Industry (Wood Review)
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding the recommendations of the interim report by Sir Ian Wood on the oil and gas industry. (S4O-02782)
The Scottish Government welcomes Sir Ian Wood’s interim report. We believe that it should be implemented and that a shadow body should be set up, as he suggests. That is urgent, given the prize that is involved, which he estimates as £200,000 million. We believe that Sir Ian Wood’s recommendations should be implemented with speed and that the shadow body should be headquartered in Aberdeen.
The minister anticipated my supplementary question about the location of the shadow body.
Does the minister have a date in mind for the commencement of the work of the shadow body in Aberdeen?
I believe that it should be possible to set up the shadow body very quickly indeed and I think that spring of this year would be a reasonable target.
I have communicated the view to the industry and to the UK Government—at the PILOT meeting on 31 October 2013 and at a meeting of the UK Oil and Gas Industry Council on 7 November 2013—that the Scottish Government strongly supports the implementation of Sir Ian Wood’s proposals. If they are implemented expeditiously, we can make enormous progress.
I believe that Sir Ian Wood himself argued that a shadow body should be set up as soon as possible in order to take forward the important work that could make such an enormous difference through increasing revenue for the industry and through a potentially enormous windfall gain to the taxpayer, regardless of which Treasury is entitled to the money at the time.
Credit Unions (Support)
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to help credit unions meet increased demand for their services. (S4O-02783)
Credit unions are encouraged to access the Scottish Government’s third sector organisational development and support programmes. We are working with the credit union representative bodies to ensure that their members across the country are aware of the programmes.
Support includes the enterprise ready fund, which opened in September 2013 and which will distribute £6 million during the period 2013 to 2015 to help to maintain, develop and grow Scotland’s enterprising third sector. The just enterprise programme works alongside the enterprise ready fund. It is a tailored service that provides business development support and training for third sector organisations across Scotland, and it is also available to credit unions.
The minister will be aware that the 12 days of debtmas campaign that he launched before Christmas was incredibly successful—indeed, it was too successful, in the sense that some credit unions could not keep up with the demand for their services. Given that he has rejected my idea of a loan guarantee fund—an idea that was put forward with the support of the Association of British Credit Unions—what will he do now to support credit unions, or was his support just for Christmas?
The campaign continues. The second phase of the campaign is being rolled out as we speak, which I hope is welcomed.
I met a representative of ABCUL just yesterday. One of the things that credit unions in Scotland want are the reforms that are contained in our Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Bill, which will require debtors who are able to pay to make a payment towards their debts for a period of four years. Sadly, as far as I can understand its position, the Labour Party opposes that. It is one concrete measure that virtually all the credit unions in our consultation supported, and I very much hope that, after reconsideration, it will have cross-party support throughout the chamber.
There was not majority support for the loan guarantee fund as proposed by Kezia Dugdale. We considered the issue extremely carefully, but there was strong opposition from a considerable number of credit unions. Fortunately, the Scottish League of Credit Unions has made alternative proposals, and we are considering them. I am happy to inform members that they include the possible examination of the merger of credit unions to enable a smaller number of perhaps more financially robust organisations to provide the excellent services that credit unions provide throughout the country. I hope that that, too, will have cross-party support.
Confederation of British Industry Scotland (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of CBI Scotland and what issues were discussed. (S4O-02784)
On 18 December 2013, representatives of CBI Scotland attended the national economic forum to discuss the way forward to further sustainable economic growth. Later that day, the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism chaired a meeting of the small business consultative group, which included a CBI Scotland representative. The group discussed support for microbusinesses, business legacy from major events in 2014, and the town centre action plan.
Will the cabinet secretary reassure us that the Scottish Government values the contribution made by CBI Scotland to the continuing policy debate? Does he agree that those from the business community who speak out for or against independence should be free to do so without being attacked for their views? Will he take the opportunity to distance himself from some of the disgraceful language used by some in the yes campaign to describe the well-respected director of CBI Scotland, Iain McMillan?
I have made no secret of the fact that I think that it is important that, throughout the debate, everybody who participates does so openly, with transparency and with courtesy. Mr Fraser has witnessed that personally by the nature of the debates in which he and I have taken part, a good example of which is the debate that we had one Friday evening with the Cupar business network, if my memory serves me right. Those are the values that I bring to the debate and that everyone should bring to it.
Job Creation (North Glasgow)
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports job creation in north Glasgow. (S4O-02785)
Through the Government’s programme of activity and particularly through its procurement, which was worth £9.8 billion in 2011-12, the Government supports the creation of demand and supports employment within the Scottish economy.
That has a particular effect in Glasgow with the support through procurement measures and other financial support that the Government makes available to Glasgow City Council and to the housing associations in Glasgow, the support that is becoming increasingly evident in the preparations for the Commonwealth games, and some of the projects that are taken forward under the umbrella of the Scottish Futures Trust.
Several other initiatives are being taken forward to provide the employment opportunities that are necessary in some of the localities in the north of Glasgow. For example, we have provided £100,000 funding for the NG Homes kick start futures project and a further £50,000 for Maryhill and Possilpark citizens advice bureau’s money wise job wise scheme, which provides support to people living in the Maryhill and Possilpark areas of Glasgow.
The funding to both those projects is welcome. However, there is another important project in Royston in my constituency, which has been supporting young people who are hardest to reach in the employment market. It is called Royston at work. Indeed, the cabinet secretary’s colleague Ms Constance was delighted to be able to give out awards at the project’s last awards ceremony.
Unfortunately, however, it appears that the project might not be able to continue because none of the agencies has been able to come up with an appropriate amount of cash to assist with it. The project is very highly regarded in the area and has made a significant difference to hard-to-reach young people trying to get into the job market. Does the cabinet secretary have any suggestions for other sources of funding to which the project might look?
I am not familiar with the specific project that Ms Ferguson raises, but I am familiar with a range of projects of that type around the country that do utterly invaluable work in supporting young people who for a variety of different reasons—many of them completely beyond their control—find themselves isolated from the labour market and the journey into it very difficult. Many of those organisations have good track records of achieving, to be frank, what looks like the impossible in supporting those young people in that journey.
If Ms Ferguson would care to write to me with the details of the project, I will happily explore the circumstances and determine what we can do. It is important that, when we find good practice, we try to support it. I will endeavour to do as much as I can to assist the project.
I echo Patricia Ferguson’s calls in relation to the Royston at work project, which I know well and which I have written to the cabinet secretary about.
Does the cabinet secretary agree that, when projects such as Royston at work, which was funded initially by the Big Lottery Fund, follow good practice and meet required outcomes, the Scottish Government or others should find ways of mainstreaming the funding so that the best practice endures and is not a short-term initiative?
As we go through the question time session, ministers hear more details that allow us to form a view on what has happened.
I pay warm tribute to the Big Lottery Fund Scotland committee, which takes a range of innovative decisions about funding projects that allow good practice to emerge. When temporary periods of funding elapse, the challenge for the public sector is to find a sustainable channel of funding for future years.
In the light of the information I receive, I will look carefully at the initiative and see whether there are ways in which we can take forward measures. I give the caveat that the resources that are at the Government’s disposal are finite. We endeavour to extend the reach of such initiatives, but financial constraints will operate. However, we should work hard to maintain good practice.
Exhibition and Conference Centre (Aberdeen City Council)
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding a new exhibition and conference centre. (S4O-02786)
Scottish Enterprise’s chief executive met Aberdeen City Council leaders on 18 November to discuss a number of issues, including a new exhibition and conference centre. That was followed by a meeting of Scottish Enterprise officials and council representatives on 12 December to discuss the proposal and how Scottish Enterprise might be involved.
Given that Aberdeen hosts offshore Europe—Scotland’s largest conference and the largest energy event in the world outwith Houston—as well as many other major events, will the minister acknowledge that Aberdeen’s exhibition and conference centre is of national and international significance? Will he ensure that Scottish Enterprise approaches the centre’s redevelopment on the same basis as it approached the redevelopment of exhibition centres in Glasgow and Edinburgh in the recent past?
Mr Macdonald helpfully highlights the importance of Aberdeen and the energy sector. I am sure that Mr Ewing particularly welcomes that contribution. The location is ideal for developing that sector and the conference strategy, on which Mr Ewing has led. Aberdeen should feature as a place of national and international significance.
Scottish Enterprise has operational independence, of course, but we would all expect it to put a clear focus on the business case once that is received. Aberdeen would enjoy the support that has been expressed around the country, but it can be judged only on the basis of the business case, which we look forward to receiving. I checked the comparators in Glasgow and Edinburgh. In the past six years, Scottish Enterprise has not received a business case but, as soon as it does, that will be given due consideration and all worthy support.
I look forward to the Scottish National Party spring conference at the AECC later this year.
When it came to power, the Labour-led administration in Aberdeen claimed to have written off the debt of the current AECC, but I understand that that has still not happened. Does the minister agree that it might not be wise to invest in a new facility when the significant debt of the existing facility remains on the books?
I look forward to chairing the spring conference, but that is completely irrelevant to my ministerial role, so I will move on.
The information that we have is that Aberdeen City Council has said that the debt has been paid—that is what Scottish Enterprise was told. We hold no information to the contrary. I am happy to ensure that the matter is clarified so that any financial decision by the council is taken within the prudential borrowing framework. That is what any elected member in the Parliament and the council would expect.
Childcare (Economic Impact)
To ask the Scottish Government what the economic impact would be of the proposals on childcare outlined in the white paper on independence. (S4O-02787)
In “Scotland’s Future”, the Government set out our ambition to establish after independence a universal system of high-quality early learning and childcare for children from the age of one to when they start school. As part of our commitment to that ambition, we announced an expansion of free childcare provision to cover 27 per cent of two-year-olds from August next year.
Increasing participation in the labour market will have positive impacts on the Scottish economy and on tax revenues. In the long term, increasing female labour market activity rates by 6 percentage points could increase the level of economic output by about £2.2 billion, while tax revenues could be about £700 million higher.
Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that that transformational policy matches the drive and ambition of the people of Scotland and that it would, following independence, ensure that Scotland acted as a beacon for progressiveness and fairness in helping those who struggle with childcare costs?
Mr Keir makes a fair point that the investment that would be associated with expanding childcare support in Scotland would have a significant benefit for our youngest citizens. It would also have the benefit of making it easier for more and more individuals—principally women—to participate in the economy. Boosting our economic participation levels in the fashion that I set out in my original answer would significantly strengthen the degree of economic activity in Scotland and the revenues that would be available to the Government of an independent Scotland.
I read the cabinet secretary’s analysis of his childcare policy at the weekend. Can he tell us—specifically on the tax receipts—what percentage of jobs are full time?
I cannot give a specific answer to Kezia Dugdale’s question. I will say that the analysis proves very clearly the benefits of the policy that we have set out because of the impact that it would have on economic activity in the Scottish economy in general and on tax revenues in particular. That contrasts with the arrangements that will exist under the Scotland Act 2012, for example, which is just about to be implemented. Under those arrangements, were revenues from the four main taxes that are collected in Scotland to increase by 1 per cent and the core welfare budget to reduce by the same amount because of people going into the labour market, about 88 per cent of the funds raised would go to the Treasury. That strikes me as a wasted opportunity in terms of being able to invest in the Scottish economy and the future of delivery of public services for the people of our country.
Energy UK (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Energy UK. (S4O-02788)
Both ministers and officials are in regular contact with Energy UK on a range of issues, including electricity market reform, energy efficiency and fuel poverty.
Is the minister aware that, although it is encouraging that business confidence in the energy sector remains positive at present, there was a slight drop in overall confidence in the third quarter of last year? Figures within the oil and gas sector in particular have stated:
“Factors such as a shortage of skilled personnel, wage inflation and growing operating costs may have dampened any rise in optimism across the industry”.
Does the minister recognise that situation and can he outline any specific actions that the Scottish Government is taking to address the skills shortage in particular?
Yes I do and yes I can. I have spent a lot of time working with people in industry on that matter. Michael McMahon has asked a very sensible question on those matters. One of the enormous opportunities in Scotland comes from the planned huge investment in the oil and gas industry—not just £13 billion this year but £100 billion in the pipeline.
Last week I heard about the Mariner field from the chief executive of Statoil, whom I met in Oslo on Friday. It is clear that the world has confidence in Scotland and it is investing in Scotland. We must work with Oil & Gas UK, with OPITO, with the offshore contractors association, with the United Kingdom Government, with the local authority—with all parties—to deliver the skills.
We also need to look at other parts of Scotland such as Ayrshire—which Mr Kenneth Gibson represents—the north of Scotland, the Highlands and the north-east. Many parts of Scotland can contribute to the continued success of the industry and there are opportunities for people to transition from engineering across to oil and gas. Above all, we must dispel the lingering perception that oil and gas have run out in Scotland. The contrary is the case. There will, as we now know, be extraction of oil and gas until beyond the middle of this century. It offers an enormously rewarding and interesting career to young people so we must inspire young people and fill them with confidence about the industry, and not decry it, belittle it or say that it will not produce enormous wealth.
I am sure that the minister will welcome the Scottish Renewables report, “Employment in Renewable Energy in Scotland 2013”, which was published yesterday. It suggests that there has been steady growth to more than 11,500 in the number of people who are employed throughout the country in the renewables industry and supply chain. However, does he share my concern that the UK Government’s prevarication on energy policy is seriously inhibiting Scotland’s renewable energy opportunities, including the creation of quality jobs in my constituency and those of many other members?
I welcome the conclusion by Scottish Renewables that the overall number of people who are employed in the renewables sector in Scotland in a range of areas such as wind energy, biomass, hydro power and work on the grid currently stands at a record level. That is a tribute to the Government’s support and to the success of the industry and developers, as well as to communities, which receive enormous community benefits.
Of course, it goes beyond political observation to say that the uncertainty over electricity market reform has hardly filled investors with confidence. There are concerns that the announcements that have been made will mean that offshore wind, for example, will not be able to achieve its full potential, and that the feed-in tariff rules with regard to hydro power and degression do not help either. We are working closely with Scottish Renewables to overcome those problems.
Electricity from Scottish renewables is necessary to keep the lights on in England. The margin of excess between supply and demand is now 2 per cent, and if there is any further failure of coal generation stations there, there will be a deficit. That is a very serious situation, but fortunately Scotland is at hand to provide the solution and to keep the lights on in England.
I ask the minister to address the microphone in answering questions, as it may otherwise be difficult for me and the official reporters to hear him.
North Sea Oil (Economic Benefits)
To ask the Scottish Government what the economic benefits to Scotland are of the revenues from North Sea oil. (S4O-02789)
In 2012, oil and gas production was estimated to have contributed around £22 billion to Scottish gross domestic product. Approximately 225,000 people are employed directly or indirectly in the sector throughout Scotland.
Oil & Gas UK estimates that there are up to 24,000 million barrels of recoverable oil and gas remaining in the North Sea. With a potential wholesale value of up to £1.5 trillion—or £1.5 million million—that means that more than half the value of North Sea oil could still be extracted. If that is realised, it will afford Scotland greater choices and chances to strengthen its already diverse economy.
The minister will be aware of the many occasions on which the United Kingdom Government and its allies have quoted the Office for Budget Responsibility’s 2012 oil price forecast as reliable and credible. Does he therefore share my surprise that the OBR’s recent change in forecasting methodology passed without any comment, and does he agree with Alistair Darling that the OBR seems to be not much more than an extension of the Conservative Party, with little credibility at all on this vital issue?
I must confess that I do not make a careful study of the collected oeuvre of Mr Darling on such matters. However, I can say that we in Scotland—especially young people—have an enormous opportunity to follow careers in an industry that is leading the world, and to husband that resource, as Norway does, with the powers of independence.
Just last week—the day after I visited Norway, by sheer coincidence—it so happened that every citizen in Norway became a paper kroner millionaire, such is the effect in just over two decades of the country’s accumulating through good husbandry the enormous wealth that it generates.
The great news is that the industry is alive and kicking, and—provided that we meet the challenges—Scotland, with the powers of independence, can do the same.
Will the Scottish Government publish its updated projections for revenues from North Sea oil?
We want revenue to be maximised. If Mr Brown had been listening earlier, he would—[Laughter.] He laughs but, actually, he is laughing at his own Government’s plan. [Interruption.]
Order, please, Mr Fraser.
If we want to maximise the revenue, we have to take Sir Ian Wood’s analysis very seriously. I commend to Mr Brown a good read of Sir Ian’s interim report. Its analysis is that it depends entirely on the policies that we pursue. Will we pursue the policies of the past, which have undermined confidence in the United Kingdom—
Will you publish the figures?
I presume that Mr Brown enjoyed the tax hike in 2011, which undermined confidence in the UK in boardrooms throughout the world. Alternatively, will we pursue the policies of the Labour Party in the past decade, which involved similar unheralded tax hikes? [Interruption.]
Order, please.
The answer is that it entirely depends on the policies that one pursues. Quite simply, the UK has pursued the wrong policies. That is why Norway has succeeded in recovering about 50 per cent of oil and gas from its fields, whereas, sadly, the recovery rates in the UK have been much lower. The industry understands that and I hope that, in time, Mr Brown and his colleagues and friends in the Labour Party will understand it.
Community Councils (Role)
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to enhance the role of community councils. (S4O-02790)
The Scottish Government, in collaboration with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Improvement Service, is supporting a project to enhance the role of community councils. The project will include exploring training opportunities for community councillors, making better use of electronic communication and investigating the possibility of running pilot projects to enhance participation in community councils.
As the minister will be aware, in recent months, several community councils have opposed local government decisions and felt that they were not properly consulted or listened to. In some cases, they have disbanded. What words of encouragement can the minister offer those groups?
Certainly, community councils are perfectly entitled to disagree with a local authority or, for that matter, the Scottish Government. They are independent and represent their communities, and I encourage them to do so enthusiastically.
Small Business Bonus Scheme (Glasgow)
To ask the Scottish Government how its small business bonus scheme supports businesses in Glasgow. (S4O-02791)
In Glasgow, 8,440 business properties are benefiting from the small business bonus scheme. As a result, Glasgow businesses have saved a total of more than £79 million in business rates taxation since the scheme was introduced by the Government in 2008. The Scottish Government has committed to maintaining the small business bonus for the lifetime of the current session of Parliament and recently announced an expansion of the scheme to include an additional 4,000 business premises.
I draw the minister’s attention to information on the Scottish Assessors Association website, which shows that on Maryhill Road, there are potentially 243 commercial units that could qualify for the small business bonus. The figure for Springburn shopping centre is 34 and, for Rutherglen Main Street, it is 68. Small businesses have approached me asking for reassurance that the small business bonus is safe with the Scottish Government, because it protects businesses and jobs. Businesses are worried that the Labour Party is seeking to abolish the scheme and with it that support.
The Scottish National Party Government has delivered our pledges on business rates and the small business bonus scheme to create the most generous and welcome package of relief in these islands. The small business bonus is here to stay, even while the Labour Party abandons policies in this and a host of other areas. We know that the scheme has been of great value to Scotland’s businesses, particularly in town centres. That is why the small business bonus is here to stay.
I ask for very brief questions and answers on question 16, please.
Independence (Financial Times Survey)
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recent Financial Times survey on how a vote for independence would affect the Scottish economy and the rest of the United Kingdom in 2014. (S4O-02792)
The Financial Times survey asked a series of questions about issues focusing on the global and UK economies. Although the survey answers were interesting on the subject of independence, a number of commentators confirmed that they had little knowledge of the Scottish debate, while others have seen their comments overtaken by the UK Treasury’s announcement that it accepts that it is responsible for UK debts.
Overall, the survey showed a significant level of concern about the way in which the UK Government has handled the recession and the proposed UK referendum on in/out membership of the European Union.
A hundred economists, academics and business leaders overwhelmingly rejected or expressed concerns about the uncertainty in the Scottish Government’s plans, many using words such as “disastrous”, “catastrophic” and “economically illiterate”. I presume that that was a disappointing response for Mr Swinney. Can he tell us whether the Scottish Government’s plans to default on our debts if the rest of the UK does not agree to a British currency union would be likely to make those economists more open-minded about Scottish independence?
Mr Smith cites those who commented in the survey, but some of them said things such as:
“I would include myself as having an insufficient understanding”
of the position in Scotland. Another said:
“I am no expert on Scotland”.
I return to my answer to Mr Fraser—who has now left the chamber—in which I said that it is important that we have a thoughtful debate to which people contribute sensibly and with courtesy. Mr Smith devalues his contribution to the debate by talking about default. The only people who are talking about default are United Kingdom Government ministers, who on Monday were forced into a complete and humiliating U-turn in order to accept the responsibility—which was always theirs—for the United Kingdom’s debt, which has been run up by a combination of the incompetence of Labour and the incompetence of the Conservatives. We want to be responsible for balancing the books and ensuring that we operate strong, sustainable public finances in the best interests of the people of this country.