Ferries
Scotland should be able to build ferries here, in Scotland, to serve the islands of Scotland and to carry the people of Scotland, so why will seven new vessels for CalMac Ferries instead be built in Poland?
It is for the simple reason that a competitive tendering process was undertaken to ensure that we can deliver seven new vessels for some of the smaller routes that are part of the CalMac network. That process involved companies in Scotland and in other countries, as is consistent with the terms of the procurement legislation that the Government must follow.
Those vessels could and should have been built here, in Scotland. Ferguson Marine could and should be fit to win such contracts. For decades, before the Scottish National Party had anything to do with it, Ferguson Marine built ferries on budget and on time, but now, under the direct control of John Swinney’s Government, it is unable to compete. Will the First Minister tell us, frankly, who is responsible for that?
The Scottish Government intervened when there was a risk that Ferguson’s would cease trading on the Clyde. We arranged for new ownership to take the yard forward. The Government subsequently took decisions that led to significant orders being placed with Ferguson’s following a competitive due process. We are in the process of concluding the small vessel replacement programme—we are in the 10-day standstill period, so I can give little detail to the Parliament on that process at the moment. Most recently, the Government has supported the work at Ferguson’s through additional investment of up to £14.2 million in the yard in order to support it and guarantee its long-term future.
Two ferries with a £97 million price tag will end up costing taxpayers more than £400 million and entering service at least seven years late—
Now you are talking down the yard.
Let us hear Mr Findlay.
That all began with the contract that John Swinney personally approved 10 years ago. It was rushed through for one purpose, which was to promote the interests of the SNP—not the interests of islanders or taxpayers. The evidence shows that the entire process was rigged and that rules were repeatedly broken. There was not even a bog-standard financial guarantee to protect taxpayers. John Swinney personally signed off a process that was not just flawed but corrupt.
Members: Oh!
Let us hear Mr Findlay.
After 10 years, Ferguson’s is still dealing with the fallout. Does John Swinney accept that his actions a decade ago are causing Scottish shipyards to lose contracts to eastern Europe today?
No, I do not accept that in any way, shape or form. If the Government had not intervened and I had not taken actions when the yard faced difficulties, there would be people today who would not have had a livelihood for the best part of a decade. I know that that does not concern Russell Findlay much, because he represents a party that destroyed the industrial base of Scotland. That is what happened under the awful leadership of Conservative Governments in the United Kingdom. This Government is working with the workforce to make sure that we can secure the future of the yard.
At the heart of Russell Findlay’s question is a complete contradiction because, on the one hand, he has accused the Government of rigging a process in the past—
Which you did.
Let us hear the First Minister. I ask members who feel compelled to comment from their seats whether they are content that they are adhering to the requirements that they should be adhering to regarding their behaviour.
The Government is being accused of rigging the process on one occasion, and now the Government is being accused of not rigging the process to make sure that the contracts for the vessels can go to Ferguson’s. That demonstrates that Russell Findlay is scraping the bottom of the barrel of political insults. He does it week after week in the Parliament, and it is a disgrace to the Conservative Party.
I am sorry, John, but we do not want the SNP to fix contracts for Ferguson’s—
Mr Findlay, I am sure that you know that we do not use only first names in the chamber.
Forgive me, Presiding Officer.
I am sorry, First Minister, but we do not want the SNP to fix contracts for Ferguson’s; we want the SNP to fix Ferguson’s so that it can win contracts fairly and squarely, because Scottish shipyards should be able to build ferries here, in Scotland.
After nationalisation, the SNP had a duty to get Ferguson’s back into a position to win contracts legitimately, and it has failed to do so. SNP politicians want all the credit when they are grabbing headlines and launching a ferry with painted-on windows, but they never accept responsibility for what has gone wrong. The First Minister’s fingerprints are all over the scandal from the very beginning. He signed off a dodgy deal that has let down islanders, taxpayers and shipyard workers, who face an uncertain future.
Scotland was once world leading in shipbuilding, and now we are losing CalMac ferry contracts to Poland. How can anyone trust John Swinney to repair the damage at Ferguson’s when he caused it in the first place?
There would not be a Ferguson’s yard trading just now if I had not intervened more than 10 years ago to try to secure the future of the yard. I make no apology for doing that over all those years.
I want to tell the Parliament what Russell Findlay really thinks, because he has not been straight with the Parliament in all his questions today. This is what Russell Findlay said before. He called Ferguson Marine
“a terrible drain on the public finances.”
He called my Government’s support
“recklessly throwing taxpayers’ money away”—[Interruption.]
Members!
I am not finished yet—I have lots more to share with the Parliament today. He said that
“the non-stop squandering of cash cannot go on.”
What we know today is that Russell Findlay has specialised in talking down the yard at Ferguson’s. We know that he has come here today just to demonstrate the political opportunism that we hear from him every week. Furthermore, we know why he is doing it: it is because the Conservative Party is being hammered by Reform, and Russell Findlay is on his way out, along with most of his colleagues. Thank goodness, and good riddance to the lot of them.
Ferries
Scotland is a country renowned worldwide for its reputation for shipbuilding. For generations, we have been a leader in engineering, manufacturing and craftsmanship. Why, therefore, does John Swinney think that Scotland is not capable of building its own ferries?
I think that Scotland is able to take forward its shipbuilding activities, and we have many examples of that being the case. The Government has intervened using our economic development powers and interventions to support that over a number of years. If it had not been for the actions of this Government and the actions that I took as a minister in the past, there would be no constancy of work at Ferguson Marine, and I make no apology for putting it in that direction.
With the Scottish National Party, it is contracts going abroad. This week, it is jobs for Poland; four years ago, it was jobs for Turkey. So much for “Stronger for Scotland”; instead, it is “The SNP—Stronger for Poland” and “The SNP—Stronger for Turkey”.
I want the ferries to be built here in Scotland.—[Interruption.]
Let us hear Mr Sarwar.
I want the investment and the jobs to be here in Scotland. We have world-leading shipbuilders at Port Glasgow, Govan and Rosyth. We have a publicly owned shipbuilding company, Ferguson’s, and we have BAE Systems and Babcock. I want Scotland’s shipbuilders to be able to bid on and win the contracts, but John Swinney believes that none of them are good enough to build Scotland’s ferries.
What is it about the way that the SNP runs Ferguson’s and the way that the SNP does procurement that means that Scotland’s ferries cannot be built in Scotland?
I do not believe that any of the guff that Mr Sarwar has suggested is my view. Absolutely not—
First Minister, let us ensure that our language is courteous and respectful.
Let me rephrase my point. I do not believe any of the nonsense that was purported by Mr Sarwar to be my view.
We have gone through a competitive tendering process, and Ferguson Marine was part of that competitive tendering process. It follows that I believe that that yard is perfectly able to build the ships, because it was part of the tendering process. It got through that tendering process and put in a bid that was credible and could be considered. Ministers cannot operate outside the law.
That was a separate process!
Mr Marra.
We have got to follow the procurement law that is in place. We have got to follow the United Kingdom Subsidy Control Act 2022, which puts an obligation on all of us to make sure that ferry tenders are determined on the basis of an open procurement process.
I would love for the vessels to be built at Ferguson Marine—of course I would love that to be the case. That is why we are putting in £14.2 million over two years to support Ferguson Marine to develop its capability. I want that to be the case, but I have to make sure that we procure our ferry vessels in accordance with the legislation that is in place in the United Kingdom.
John Swinney sends investment and jobs to Turkey and to Poland. People in Scotland will think that it is nonsense that he is not building ferries here in Scotland.
The consequence of SNP incompetence is stark. It is not just investment and jobs that are going abroad. At the heart of the matter are island communities that have been failed. Islanders are missing out on hospital appointments. They have missed weddings and loved ones’ funerals, and their livelihoods are being destroyed. The Fraser of Allander Institute estimates that disrupted ferry services cost the Isle of Arran alone up to £170,000 a day in lost revenue, which is devastating for an island.
In Uist, Stephen Peteranna, who is the managing director of a hotel group that employs 70 people on the island, said that his team has spent more than four decades building a sustainable business, only to watch CalMac and the Scottish Government shrink it over the past five years. What does John Swinney say to Stephen, his family and his staff, whose livelihoods are being put at risk by the SNP Government?
What I would say to Mr Peteranna—whom I have met on many occasions and for whom I have great respect—is that the Scottish Government is investing in the ferry network. We have commissioned the Glen Sannox and the Glen Rosa from Ferguson’s. We have four large vessels coming from the Cemre yard in Turkey and seven small vessels have been procured by the Government.
When the Government came in to office in 2007, the 2006-07 expenditure on ferries in Scotland was £90 million. In the forthcoming budget, which Mr Sarwar did not support, the expenditure will be £530 million—a 23 per cent increase in funding levels on last year. [Interruption.]
Let us hear one another.
What I would say is that the Government is investing in the ferry network. We have procured six large vessels to join the network. We have got seven smaller vessels that will be joining the network over time. The Government is putting up the money to support that.
Mr Sarwar has talked about the Ferguson’s yard. I remind him of what the GMB said when it wrote to him in 2022. Mr Sarwar was told by the GMB that the Labour Party’s approach to the situation at Ferguson’s is so “disappointing”. That is what the GMB told Mr Sarwar. Why? It did so because Mr Sarwar and his colleagues, who are repeatedly shouting at me today, have done what the Tories have done for years—they have run down Ferguson’s while this Government has supported Ferguson’s, for which I make no apology today.
Cabinet (Meetings)
To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet. (S6F-03919)
The Cabinet will next meet on Monday, in Kirkintilloch, where we will have the opportunity to meet local businesses, service providers and community groups, as well as to hear directly from local community members.
Since the launch of the Netflix drama “Adolescence”, everyone has been talking about the challenges that young people face—violence in schools, the rise of toxic misogynists such as Andrew Tate and online bullying. That is not just drama—it is happening here and now in Scotland, too.
Last summer, the Scottish Government published a new action plan that aimed to make pupils and staff feel safe and supported. However, new research published today by my party shows that more than 24,000 violent incidents have been reported in our schools in the months since the plan was revealed. Incident for incident, that level of reporting matches the trajectory of the record-breaking 40,000 reports of school violence that were recorded last year.
Pupils should not be going to school afraid. Teachers deserve to know that the Scottish Government has their back. Does the First Minister think that pupils and staff feel any safer or more supported? What further practical actions will his Government take to combat violence in our schools?
I agree with Mr Cole-Hamilton on the impact of the drama “Adolescence”, because it is leading to significant debate in our society—which I think is absolutely necessary—about the unacceptable behaviour of some supposed influencers, who are influencing very poor behaviour, among young men in particular, in our society today.
I read with care some reflections by Gareth Southgate in the Dimbleby lecture, which I thought were significant contributions to the debate. I again reinforce—as I have done on a number of occasions as First Minister—the importance of me exercising the leadership that I need to exercise to improve the culture and behaviour of men and boys in our society today.
In relation to the question of violence in our schools, Mr Cole-Hamilton correctly indicated that the Government has worked with our local authority partners to take forward the behaviour in schools action plan. That plan includes a range of actions that are designed to improve the situation, which I think that Mr Cole-Hamilton and I would probably accept has been influenced by the aftermath of Covid and the unacceptable examples of leadership that I have just highlighted.
I am always open to wider consideration of how we can support school staff and ensure that schools are safe places for young people to be educated in, because schools must be safe places for young people to be educated in. In some circumstances, school might well be the only safe place that a young person experiences.
I am therefore very open to dialogue with Mr Cole-Hamilton on how we can take further practical measures, beyond what the Government has already announced, to ensure that we support our schools in that important work.
“UK Living Standards Review 2025”
To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the recent “UK Living Standards Review 2025”, from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, and any implications for its work to grow Scotland’s economy. (S6F-03926)
The report rightly identifies economic problems that the United Kingdom continues to face. The UK is among the least generous on welfare across the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the UK’s regional income growth is among the slowest in Europe and its weak productivity growth is costing workers thousands per year.
Those are direct results of the welfare and economic choices of the current and previous United Kingdom Governments, which include the decision not to remove the two-child limit on universal credit. The report finds that removing that would be the most cost-effective way to reduce poverty.
Despite the hindrances that those UK Government decisions place on our ability to grow the Scottish economy and to eradicate child poverty, gross domestic product per person in Scotland has grown by 10.3 per cent since 2007, compared with 6 per cent growth in the United Kingdom as a whole.
I thank the First Minister for that response and simply add that the publication noted that the poorest households in Slovenia are now better off than the poorest in the UK.
Low productivity is costing workers in the UK £4,300 every year. Economic growth is the answer, so what further steps has the First Minister planned in that regard? When will plans be set out to offer Scots the opportunity to match the superior growth of other medium-sized countries that have proper fiscal powers in the form of independence?
The Government is taking a number of steps to improve the performance of the Scottish economy, where, as I highlighted in my earlier answer to Michelle Thomson, GDP per capita has actually grown at a faster rate than in the rest of the United Kingdom.
Scottish Government interventions have helped to improve economic performance, and we are taking a positive approach towards investment. On Monday, a number of ministers took part in an enormously successful investment forum that was well supported by international investors in the Scottish economy, and we undertake constant dialogue with investors.
I recognise, support and endorse Michelle Thomson’s point that the already higher levels of economic growth per person that we have been able to deliver in Scotland under devolution would be enhanced if we had the wider range of fiscal powers that independent countries take for granted. I would want to deploy those powers to deliver growth and prosperity for the people of Scotland.
Life expectancy is the starkest measure of living standards and, after 18 years of the Scottish National Party Government, Scots still die younger than people in the rest of the UK. Why, on John Swinney’s watch as Deputy First Minister and now as First Minister, has Scottish life expectancy dropped in five of the eight reporting periods since 2014?
First Minister, please answer only in relation to the substantive question.
I wonder whether, in the aftermath of the Conservatives’ ejection from office last summer, Craig Hoy has reflected at all on the damage that has been done to our society by 14 years of austerity under the Conservative Government.
Is there absolutely no space for reflection that Craig Hoy has been part of a Conservative Party that has undermined the public finances and delivered poor economic growth and which now comes here and lectures me about a Government that has increased GDP per capita faster in Scotland than it has grown in the rest of the United Kingdom? That demonstrates the fact that Craig Hoy is just playing about with politics.
You cannot answer the question.
Let us hear the First Minister.
He is playing about with politics, has no constructive solutions to bring forward for Scotland and is part of a party that has damaged the wellbeing of the people of Scotland by austerity.
Endometriosis Awareness Month
To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is marking endometriosis awareness month. (S6F-03924)
Endometriosis is a chronic and painful condition that can have an enormous impact on the health and wellbeing of women who are affected. That is why endometriosis is a priority in our women’s health plan.
March is endometriosis awareness month, and we are taking action to raise awareness of the condition and its symptoms and to help women to find information and support. Earlier this month, we lit Government buildings in yellow in recognition of endometriosis awareness month, and we have produced a social media toolkit to help others to raise awareness. We have also provided educational resources for those who work in primary care to improve understanding and to support earlier diagnosis, which I know is a critical issue for those who live with the condition.
Although the SNP said that it would bring the waiting time for endometriosis diagnosis down to 12 months, it remains at eight and a half years. After diagnosis, women with endo face further hell when waiting for treatment for this crippling condition. For example, 24-year-old Chloe Bremner was told that she faced a two-year wait for surgery on the national health service in Scotland. The pain was so unbearable that Chloe had to go to Abu Dhabi for treatment.
The women’s health plan is not cutting it. It was meant to reduce health inequalities for women and girls, and not to exacerbate them. What decisive action will the First Minister take to stop women such as Chloe paying a fortune for treatment because they cannot get proper care in Scotland?
First, the Government is working with a range of stakeholders to take forward the women’s health plan. Secondly, the Government is putting in the investment to reduce waiting times to make sure that women such as Chloe do not have to wait as long as they are having to wait, and we are making progress in reducing waiting times across a number of sectors. Thirdly, we are putting in place more than £21 billion of investment in the national health service to make sure that it can meet the needs of the public in Scotland. That is all part of the budget that the Government has put forward, and I am glad to say that Parliament has supported it.
Although endometriosis is the second most common gynaecological condition in the United Kingdom, the level of data collection on it by health boards is extremely limited. Does the Government recognise that capturing more data on general practitioner referrals for endometriosis and waiting times for consultation would create greater transparency about how long it is taking to diagnose and treat endometriosis?
I recognise that those are important steps that could be taken to assist the situation. The emphasis on improving the information that is available to us about individual conditions is part of the approach that is envisaged in the women’s health plan for Scotland. I am happy to take away the point that Carol Mochan puts to me to determine the steps that can be taken to improve the flow of data that will assist in the planning of such treatment.
Islamophobia
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to tackle Islamophobia in Scotland, in light of reports of an attack on a mosque in Aberdeen at the weekend. (S6F-03920)
I unequivocally condemn the recent attack on the Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre. I recognise the traumatic impact that such incidents have on individuals, families and communities. That is why we are taking robust and meaningful action to challenge such prejudice. We are tackling hatred and Islamophobia through delivery of our hate crime strategy.
That incident of vandalism has shocked Aberdeen’s Muslim community and the city at large. The police have responded positively and people in Old Aberdeen have rallied round to help the mosque congregation with the clean-up.
Does the First Minister agree with my view that it is incumbent on Governments, all leaders and all politicians in the Parliament and elsewhere to unite to tackle Islamophobia, intolerance and extremist views?
I agree with those sentiments, and it is for that reason that I have indicated that I will convene a gathering of political and civic leaders to establish constructive interventions that we can all agree on to create a cohesive society in which everyone feels safe and at home.
The example that Mr Stewart has given to Parliament—the steps that the community in Old Aberdeen has taken to demonstrate exactly that type of solidarity and support to the Muslim community in the city of Aberdeen—is a splendid example of the type of spirit that we need to have in this country, where we are defined by what unites us and not by what divides us.
I raised Islamophobia with the First Minister just two weeks ago. The abhorrent attack on Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre demonstrates that Scotland is not immune to hatred, so I welcome the First Minister’s condemning it today. Will he outline what action is being taken to protect mosques during Ramadan? Does he agree that education is key to combating Islamophobia and hatred of all forms?
I agree with the points that Mr Choudhury has put to me. I reassure him and the Muslim community in Scotland that I have been constantly encouraged by the approach that Police Scotland has taken. It has always sought dialogue with the Muslim community and has, at times of anxiety, accentuated its engagement. I know that, during Ramadan and at other times of the year, Police Scotland is actively engaged with the community to ensure that it feels safe. That is what I want the community to feel, and I know that that is the view of the Parliament and Police Scotland.
We move to constituency and general supplementary questions.
United Kingdom Government Benefit Changes
Under the United Kingdom Labour Government, most pensioners have lost their winter fuel allowance, women against state pension inequality have been cast aside and now we have had an attack on benefits. What impact will changes in the UK personal independence payment have on pensioners who are making new applications under the Scottish Government’s pension age disability payment, which is the replacement for the UK attendance allowance?
I understand the anxiety that Christine Grahame has expressed. We have all been enormously troubled and concerned by the United Kingdom Government’s announcements, which will significantly undermine access to the disability benefits that will be available to individuals. We have to observe with care the process that the United Kingdom Government is going through, because it will determine the principal impact on the finances that we have available to support the benefits and social security arrangements that are under our control.
I cannot give a definitive answer to Christine Grahame, but I can say that, under the legislation that the Government has put to the UK Parliament, the decisions that we take on social security must ensure that we operate a system that has dignity and respect at its heart. The UK Government’s decisions do not have at their heart dignity and respect, but austerity. We were told that the election of a Labour Government would end austerity, but this week disabled people and others who are vulnerable in our society have learned the hard way that Labour is carrying on the austerity of the Tories.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (Wildfire Warnings)
Last year, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service dealt with 133 serious wildfire incidents between March and June, including 10 in my constituency. Despite a small increase in the latest budget, Scotland’s national fire service has been cut to the bone, with cuts to firefighter numbers and fire engines, and stations being brought to their knees, according to the Fire Brigades Union.
In the light of the impact of climate change in rural areas, does the First Minister agree that additional resources need to be made available? What action is he taking regarding the “extreme” risk of wildfire warning that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has issued for low-lying areas in Scotland, including south-west Scotland, for this weekend?
I acknowledge the concern that exists about the warning that has been put in place. That warning has been put in place in March when, I think, none of us would ordinarily expect a wildfire warning in Scotland. That is an indication of the serious effects of climate change that we are now experiencing in our society, which must be addressed.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will work with Forestry and Land Scotland, non-governmental organisations, landowners and communities to respond effectively to any incidents, and it is monitoring examples.
The service does an exceptional job in Scotland and is being supported by a budget increase of £29.3 million, which is a measure of the Government’s commitment. Indeed, the budget is now £79 million higher than it was in 2017-18.
I am all for having considered discussions in the Parliament about the public finances, but I have to put it to Mr Carson that he has a bit of a brass neck coming here—
This is about wildfires.
Yes—this is about wildfires, but there would be no money to tackle them if the Parliament had not passed the budget—a budget that the Conservatives voted against—[Interruption.]
Members!
I will not tire of pointing out to the Conservatives their total and utter inadequacy in the Parliament, because they come here asking us to spend more money when they would not put budget provision in place. The Tories are a disgrace.
BBC Scotland (“River City” Cancellation)
Many people have been shocked and saddened by BBC Scotland’s decision to cancel “River City”, with nearly 10,000 people having signed a petition by the trade union Equity to save the show. The decision has implications for jobs, opportunities and viewers. There are serious concerns that plans to replace the show will collectively offer 20 hours less broadcast television time a year to Scottish licence fee payers than the current 33 hours of “River City”.
Does the First Minister share my concerns about that decision, and the concerns of Jackie Baillie and I about the potential loss of the Dumbarton studios, which are also used for many other productions?
Ahead of the 2027 charter renewal, will the Scottish Government seek guarantees that BBC Scotland’s budget will be invested in local TV and film production?
Those are, of course, decisions for BBC Scotland, but I recognise the disappointment about the decision not to continue the “River City” series.
The point that underlies Mr Bibby’s comments is the importance of production of television material within Scotland. The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture has been discussing that issue with the BBC, and he will discuss the implications of the “River City” decision with Equity.
I want to be clear to the Parliament that the Government attaches the greatest importance to ensuring that production activity is undertaken genuinely within Scotland, so that the economic benefit of it is felt within Scotland. That is what the BBC charter would oblige of the BBC. The Government will be engaging very strongly to ensure that that is the case.
Offshore Wind Industry (Investment)
The success of Scotland’s offshore wind industry is, rightly, a priority of the Scottish Government, as it delivers on our climate obligations and unlocks new jobs and significant economic opportunities. Following this week’s global offshore wind investment forum, will the First Minister provide an update on the steps that the Scottish National Party Government is taking to attract investment and support in Scotland’s offshore wind industry?
The Government is taking a number of steps to support the development of the offshore wind industry. Significant investments have already landed in Scotland, with the commitments at Ardersier and the investments by Sumitomo at Nigg. We are also supporting further developments at Scapa Flow and Montrose. There is a great deal of investment happening.
I reassure Jackie Dunbar that the level of investment interest in Scotland, as demonstrated at the global offshore wind investment forum on Monday, is very encouraging. The Government is taking steps to ensure that we align the investment opportunities with sites in Scotland, supported by our enterprise development agencies and the Scottish National Investment Bank. A number of steps are coming together that will enable us to reap the rewards of the significant natural opportunities that we have.
Children with Cancer (Disability Benefits)
Research by Young Lives vs Cancer shows that children with cancer wait an average of six months for disability benefits in Scotland, leaving struggling families without support. Will the First Minister remove the three-month qualifying period for children with clear medical evidence, ensuring that financial aid starts at diagnosis, so that no child in Scotland faces additional hardship at an already overwhelming time for them and their family?
I will certainly explore that question. It is important that people in our society who require support are able to receive it at the earliest possible opportunity. We are seeing a reduction in Social Security Scotland’s processing times across the range of social security services that are available. I will consider the point that Mr Balfour has put to me.
Tour de France 2027
I am sure that the First Minister will be as excited as I am to see the Tour de France come to Scotland in 2027. It will be the first time in the event’s 124-year history that it has visited our cycling nation. What lessons were learned on the back of the UCI cycling world championships in 2023? It is important that the Tour should leave a lasting legacy, particularly for disadvantaged communities, once the peloton has moved on from Scotland.
I echo Mark Ruskell’s welcoming of the race organisers’ announcement at Edinburgh castle last night. I was delighted to be there to welcome the interest and commitment of those organising the Tour de France, and of the women’s race into the bargain. It will be the first time in the event’s history that the women’s race will have started outside France. That presents an enormous opportunity for Scotland and demonstrates our success and effectiveness in attracting major international events. I am delighted that we have been able to secure that for 2027.
The principal lesson that I have learned from the UCI world championships is that we must put in place infrastructure and facilities that enable local people to take part in cycling activity. The Government’s investment in active travel assists in that respect. We can see the effect of many of those changes around our communities, where such infrastructure is now being put in place.
United Kingdom Growth Forecast
Ahead of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s spring statement, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has downgraded its United Kingdom growth forecast for 2025 to 1.4 per cent. Despite all the economic levers that it has at its disposal, the UK Labour Government is failing to grow the economy in order to hit its 2.5 per cent growth target. That is before the impact of the employer national insurance hike. The UK Government might have changed last year but, under Labour, we are seeing more of the same economic failure, with stagnant growth and continuing austerity. What impact will the downgraded forecast have on the First Minister’s Government’s priority of growing Scotland’s economy?
The issues that Mr MacDonald raises are serious. The effect of the increase in employer national insurance contributions will be a negative impact on growth. Indeed, there is now speculation that the material to be announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the spring statement will reduce the growth forecast that is expected for the United Kingdom, which will inevitably have the effect of reducing the tax revenues that are likely to be available for the chancellor to utilise.
The implication of that is that there is likely to be further pressure on the Scottish Government’s budget in the years to come. What we can expect is what we have seen from the Labour Government in the course of this week: the perpetuation of the austerity agenda that it inherited from the Conservatives, which it promised that it would bring to an end, but which it has revitalised as part of the Labour Government. I do not think that anyone would have imagined that a Labour Government would come into office and inflict more austerity on the people of Scotland.
Antisocial Behaviour (Bus Services)
This week, evening bus services through Tillicoultry’s main bus stance have been suspended from 7 pm due to incidents of antisocial behaviour. McGill’s and Midland Bluebird have taken that action due to a rise in violent incidents that have occurred this month. Such services are a lifeline for night-time workers, among others, and such behaviour is completely unacceptable. What urgent action can be taken to ensure the safety of bus drivers, passengers and the general public so that they are protected from needless violence?
I recognise the importance of all our public transport services being operated safely, and that applies to passengers and members of staff. Such incidents are indeed totally unacceptable. Police Scotland will take active steps to ensure that the community is kept safe and that there is every opportunity for bus services, and public transport services in general, to operate in the way that members of the public reasonably expect them to.
Ferguson Marine
The First Minister will be very much aware of my disappointment that Ferguson Marine did not win the order that was announced on Monday, but I welcome the fact that there is a new chief executive at the yard. Will the First Minister guarantee and ensure that the Scottish Government will have a thorough and robust discussion and debrief with the management and the board of Ferguson Marine so that the yard can become competitive and can win future orders from the public sector and on the commercial market?
I am very pleased to welcome the appointment of Graeme Thomson as the new chief executive of Ferguson Marine. He will take up that post on 1 May.
The Government is taking all the steps that Mr McMillan has put to me about making sure that we strengthen the yard. The yard has been part of a competitive tendering process and, within that, it has put forward a credible bid that indicates the strength of the yard. The Government is supporting that with a further £14.2 million of investment to strengthen the yard, and is also working with the yard to ensure that it is able to command further work to support its future. That will remain the Government’s priority in the forthcoming period.
That concludes First Minister’s question time. There will be a suspension to allow people to leave the chamber and the public gallery.
12:46 Meeting suspended.Air ais
General Question TimeAir adhart
Criminal Exploitation of Children