Chamber and committees

I am aware of the member’s particular interest. I am advised that Transport Scotland officials responded to the South West of Scotland Transport Partnership in June 2023 to confirm that the outcome of its review of SWestrans’s Beattock and Moffat transport appraisal report was that a robust business case had not been made for a Beattock station to be progressed further in the development process. Although I commend the work done by SWestrans, the action group and the local community. SWestrans’s own transport appraisal report clearly acknowledged, for example, that the option of a rail station at Beattock simply did not “stack up” from an economic perspective. I appreciate the member’s point.

I appreciate Mr Hoy inviting me to compel the cabinet secretary, but I would be more than happy to relay the member’s request to the cabinet secretary.

As the First Minister set out, the Scottish Government will invest in essential infrastructure across Scotland, including new train stations and ongoing electrification of our rail network. We will advance consideration of a new railway to Ellon, Peterhead and Fraserburgh, and are currently examining the case for a link from Tweedbank to Carlisle. We will also deliver a station at Winchburgh, as is set out in the 2026-27 budget. We are committed to improving Scotland’s rail network, as is clearly demonstrated by our delivery of a publicly owned, modernised rail service with improved reliability and accessibility.

No, thanks.

We have the welcome challenge of an ageing population, and the demographic challenge of imbalances in how our population is spread across the country. Some parts of Scotland are depopulating, while others are growing at a breakneck pace.

I want Scotland to be able to fully benefit from all the economic opportunities, and that is what this Government is committed to doing. This is a devolved Government. It does not have the full range and suite of powers of some of our near neighbours, such as Denmark or Norway. However, we work constructively to attract investment and create local supply chains to benefit our economy. The biggest threat to that is the anti-net zero policies of Reform.

Let me be clear that delivering a just transition is a challenge. However, the Scottish Government will not retreat in the face of a challenge, especially when it is accompanied by opportunity—and the scale of that opportunity is massive. Scotland’s energy networks alone plan to invest about £40 billion over the next five years to strengthen our electricity grid and make full use of our renewable energy. That £40 billion investment in the grid will create real opportunities for the people and businesses of Scotland. It is expected that between 10,000 and 20,000 jobs will be created in the short term, and those jobs will put real money into people’s pockets.

No, thank you.

The positive impact of migration must be embraced if we are to succeed in our ambitions for this country. The Scottish Government recognises the critical importance of migration to secure our economic future and strengthen our communities right across the country. This Government is creating the conditions where all the people of Scotland can contribute to and benefit from the opportunities before us. Both the Scots born here in Scotland and the new Scots who have chosen to make this their home are critical to a strong wellbeing economy that is felt, and communities that thrive.

To deliver more jobs, higher wages and stronger communities, we need to seize the opportunities before us. To do that requires fast action now, deploying people and skills immediately to capture those opportunities. That means helping to attract some of the skills, talent and people from outside of Scotland and apply them here to seize the initiative and capture the benefits of our nation.

First, I welcome colleagues across the chamber who join me in condemning the violence, xenophobia and racism that were experienced right here in the streets of our capital on Friday last week. There is no place for violence in the streets, homes, or communities of Scotland—whether it be race based, faith based or otherwise. My thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted by that appalling act—not just the victims who are directly affected but the communities who are now anxious and worried that they could be next to experience hatred by virtue of who they are, where they were born or the faith that they practise.

I thank and recognise Police Scotland for all the hard work that it does every day, and, in response to recent events, to make the people of Scotland feel safe and supported. Scotland is a place that values hope, tolerance and solidarity—values that are shared both by people who were born here and by those who have privileged us by choosing to make Scotland their home.

I hope that those values are shared by those who are fortunate enough to be in the chamber. We must all come together to ensure that our values as a welcoming, tolerant and hopeful Scotland are protected. The Government will lead from the front to tackle all forms of violence, division, and prejudice.

I welcome Mr Cole-Hamilton’s remarks and associate myself with them entirely.

We want Scotland to be more than just a welcoming country. We want it to be a place that people actively want to live or locate in. That is why the Government is prioritising an economy with a strength that is felt by people, businesses and communities across Scotland. Scotland is a great place and, collectively, we are making it even greater. Delivering more jobs and higher wages and a progressive taxation system that funds high-quality public services will improve the lives of our people and support our businesses.

The member may wish to dress it up in moderated tones, but let me call it out for the dog-whistle politics that it is. It is utterly transparent. We see it, we will not tolerate it and we will call it out.

Fair and progressive taxation creates the foundations of a productive economy. It allows us to invest in our people through measures such as our tuition free university system or our national health service that is free at the point of need. It helps to create the stability that our businesses need to invest, grow, and thrive. It makes Scotland an attractive place to live in, move to, start a family in, and start and grow a business in. The approach that is taken by the Government is contributing towards that. The newly released EY “UK Attractiveness Survey 2026” has found that Scotland remains the United Kingdom’s top destination for foreign direct investment outside London for the eleventh consecutive year. Recent investment successes demonstrate the impact of the approach, including the investments by Ryanair at Prestwick and Center Parcs in the Scottish Borders.

Scotland is in an enviable position: we have great talent, institutions and opportunities. We do not lack in economic assets or ambition. A strong wellbeing economy is foundational to everything that the Parliament seeks to achieve, from eradicating child poverty to tackling the climate crisis and delivering quality public services. Economic growth must be felt by people, places, and businesses: felt as we eradicate child poverty through sustainable employment and support for families; felt as we deliver a just transition to net zero, creating industries of the future and protecting our climate; and felt as we sustain the public services that make Scotland the great place that it is to live in. Maintaining Scotland’s reputation as a world-class place to live and make a home in is key to our current and future success.

There is no place for xenophobia in Scotland. Those who choose to make Scotland their home and to contribute to our culture, economy and communities should be welcomed, not demonised or frightened.

No, thank you.

If we get this right, we will build a foundation for the future, locking in investment, jobs and industries that will provide opportunities over the long term. However, we cannot do that alone.

Energy is at the heart of our economy and will remain our largest economic opportunity into the future, delivering more investment, more good jobs and lower costs for households and businesses. Our priority is to secure maximum economic advantage and employment from that spend by capturing supply change and high-value jobs in Scotland, giving investors confidence that projects can move at pace and will benefit communities.