Question reference: S5W-33749
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee City East, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 3 December 2020
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 December 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are to support the manufacturing sector’s recovery.
Answer
The Scottish Government is publishing Making Scotland’s Future: A Recovery Plan For Manufacturing for consultation on 4 th December 2020.
The Recovery Plan has been developed in partnership with representatives from industry, public sector, trade unions and academia and its publication creates the opportunity for wider stakeholders to input.
On top of £2.3 billion support provided at the start of the pandemic, the Scottish Government has provided over £1 billion in economic recovery funds and £93 million in business grants since October. This package sits alongside other tailored support for manufacturing such as the Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund, our Innovation Centres and the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS). Together they provide a strong portfolio of support to Scottish manufacturers but we are committed to doing more to help one of Scotland’s most productive sectors.
That is why, in line with our commitment to respond to the Advisory Group on Economic Recovery report recommendations, the Making Scotland’s Future Programme and partnership will deliver a manufacturing recovery plan.
The Recovery Plan outlines a set of targeted actions for delivery over the next 12 months built around four priorities: (i) collaboration and networks, (ii) supply chains and competitiveness, (iii) adaptation and transformation and (iv) skills and workforce. Immediate actions are already in train and broader consultation with industry will help us to shape a final set of actions to progress in 2021.
The Plan also contains a commitment to Fair Work and Just Transition principles, enhancing workforce development to respond to opportunities brought by the emergence of new technologies, safeguarding and creating high-quality, green jobs.
Making Scotland’s Future: A Recovery Plan For Manufacturing will be available on the Scottish Government website following its launch. The consultation will close on 15 January 2021 and a final Plan, consolidating all feedback, will be published in February 2021.