Finance and the Economy Questions
North-east Scotland
(Budget 2023-24)
8. Alexander Burnett
(Aberdeenshire West) (Con)
To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish budget 2023-24
will support the economic development and prosperity of the
north-east. (S6O-01979)
The Minister for Just
Transition, Employment and Fair Work ()
The Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting the
economic development of the north-east. The budget will reflect a
continued investment to ensure a just transition to net zero that
supports business growth and creates job opportunities. That
includes the £500 million just transition fund, £379 million of
investment in the Aberdeen city region deal and side package,
£180 million for the emerging technologies fund, £100 million for
the green jobs fund and £75 million for the energy transition
fund. I could go on.
Alexander
Burnett
The Scottish National Party might claim that it is delivering for
communities in the north-east, but its policies undermine
Scottish business. I refer to policies such as the Deposit return
scheme, which will bring economic ruin to firms across
Scotland. One small business in my constituency, Esson’s of
Huntly, faces costs of £20,000 to implement the
DRS. Why should businesses in the north-east
trust the SNP Government when, time and again, it proceeds with
damaging or incompetent policies?
I have just outlined to the member the unprecedented package of
support for north-east Scotland that is being provided by the
Scottish Government. On the other issues that he mentions,
ministers will, of course, continue to listen to business.
I suggest to him that he speaks to his United Kingdom Government,
which is holding back the Acorn carbon capture project. That
would create thousands of jobs in his constituency in north-east
Scotland. Indeed, his Government should match the just transition
fund provided by the Scottish Government to the north-east of
Scotland. Given that it has taken more than £300 billion out of
the North Sea, perhaps it can give some of that back to invest in
the north-east and Scotland’s future.
Extract from Business
Statement
Douglas Lumsden (North
East Scotland) (Con)
My amendment seeks to insert ministerial statements into next
week’s business. First, we are looking for a statement on the
disastrous Deposit return
scheme. It is turning into complete farce. Most of the
producers are not signed up to the scheme and the minister was
unable to answer basic questions in this chamber yesterday. The
Scottish National Party leadership hopefuls have cast doubt on
the scheme and it is only right that the minister gives us an
update....
