Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Official Report 1174KB pdf

Decision Time

The first question is, that amendment S5M-14807.1, in the name of Finlay Carson, which seeks to amend motion S5M-14807, in the name of Kate Forbes, on developing Scotland’s digital industries for our economic future, be agreed to.

Amendment agreed to.

The next question is, that amendment S5M-14807.2, in the name of James Kelly, which seeks to amend the motion in the name of Kate Forbes, be agreed to.

Amendment agreed to.

The final question is, that motion S5M-14807, in the name of Kate Forbes, on developing Scotland’s digital industries for our economic future, as amended, be agreed to.

Motion, as amended, agreed to,

That the Parliament recognises the benefits of the digital economy to every business, region and citizen in Scotland; acknowledges the strong evidence of the importance of technology to growing Scotland’s business base and productivity levels; recognises that a combined focus by government, the wider public sector and private sector is the most effective way of improving the digital capabilities and processes of Scotland’s businesses and workforce, which in turn will increase productivity, profitability and, as a consequence, result in higher paid jobs, building Scotland’s reputation as an innovative nation; calls on the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government, industry, workers, academics and citizens to capitalise on opportunities available to Scottish businesses under the UK-wide industrial strategy, including through city and region deals, sector deals as well as the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and Innovate UK, which helps businesses develop new ideas and grow research and innovation strategies; further recognises that Scotland’s digital skills gap and the digital divide, which affects far too many people in rural communities, those on the lowest incomes, people with physical or mental health conditions, and older people and women, who are often digitally excluded, poses a threat to Scotland’s ability to maximise the benefits of digitisation; agrees that strategic leadership and a comprehensive strategy is needed, which includes ensuring that digital skills development is embedded in schools, from primary to further and higher education, that employers are supported to embrace retraining and upskilling, that existing infrastructure constraints, and other barriers to digital inclusion, are addressed and that the challenges of cybersecurity and securing digital democracy are recognised, and agrees that the development of a comprehensive strategy must have the principles of fair work at its heart and include the involvement of the trade unions to ensure that the benefits of digitisation can be realised for all.