S6M-12457: Growing Scotland’s Economy

The motion

That the Parliament recognises the crucial role that economic growth plays in delivering strong public services and social change; believes that, despite this, the Scottish Government has failed to use the powers that it has to grow Scotland’s economy and has instead presided over low growth and low productivity; notes the publication of the CBI-Fraser of Allander Institute Scottish Productivity Index 2024, which shows that Scotland is lagging behind the rest of the UK on 10 out of 13 productivity indicators; believes that this underperformance has serious implications for living standards and incomes and will place further pressure on Scotland’s struggling public services; calls on the Scottish Government to take a new approach to the economy, working in partnership with business to unleash the true economic potential of Scotland and its people, and notes the publication of the Scottish Labour Party’s Building a Business Case for Scotland and its proposals to use the soft power of Brand Scotland to increase exports and international investment, to simplify Scotland’s enterprise agency landscape so that it is better aligned to deliver innovation, promote growth and attract investment, to embed technology across the economy and in Scottish public services to support excellence and ensure future generations are tech and business ready, and to develop a clear skills plan with transition pathways into the green economy.

What MSPs voted on: the motion as amended

Labour’s motion was rewritten by an SNP amendment (S6M-12457.2) before this vote. A vote ‘for’ was a vote for the SNP’s wording.

That the Parliament

218 words removed by S6M-12457.2

recognises the crucial role that economic growth plays in delivering strong public services and social change; believes that, despite this, the Scottish Government has failed to use the powers that it has to grow Scotland’s economy and has instead presided over low growth and low productivity; notes the publication of the CBI-Fraser of Allander Institute Scottish Productivity Index 2024, which shows that Scotland is lagging behind the rest of the UK on 10 out of 13 productivity indicators; believes that this underperformance has serious implications for living standards and incomes and will place further pressure on Scotland’s struggling public services; calls on the Scottish Government to take a new approach to the economy, working in partnership with business to unleash the true economic potential of Scotland and its people, and notes the publication of the Scottish Labour Party’s Building a Business Case for Scotland and its proposals to use the soft power of Brand Scotland to increase exports and international investment, to simplify Scotland’s enterprise agency landscape so that it is better aligned to deliver innovation, promote growth and attract investment, to embed technology across the economy and in Scottish public services to support excellence and ensure future generations are tech and business ready, and to develop a clear skills plan with transition pathways into the green economy.

S6M-12457.2 SNP notes that, since 2007, Scotland’s GDP per capita has grown 10.8% in comparison to the UK’s growth of 5.6%; acknowledges that, over the same time period, productivity has increased at an annual average rate of 1% a year in Scotland compared with the UK’s 0.5% a year; welcomes the approach taken to the economy by the Scottish Government to build a collaborative relationship with business, industry, workers and trades unions and to create jobs through the development of a green industrial strategy; considers that, in Scotland, a near record high number of people are in payrolled employment and a higher proportion of workers earn the real Living Wage than in the other UK nations, while the gender pay gap and child poverty rates are lower also than the UK’s; recognises that the UK economic model has failed to deliver the prosperity to Scotland that is enjoyed by neighbouring countries; further recognises that the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts that the UK economy will be 4% smaller as a result of Brexit, a Brexit which is supported by three of the four largest parties in the UK Parliament, and agrees that the best way for Scotland to develop a wellbeing economy, and so match the economic success of Scotland’s northern European neighbours, is to become an independent EU member state.

Final wording as read into the Official Report at Decision Time. The marked changes are worked out by this site from the amendment texts and match that wording.

Amendments

S6M-12457.2 SNP Màiri McAllan Agreed vote, 63–50
S6M-12457.1 Conservative Murdo Fraser Fell per the Official Report

Signatures by party

1 MSP besides the lodger · 0 from other parties

Lab 1

Party on the day each MSP signed. Signing a motion is voluntary and not whipped. Who signs whose motions

Vote

1 division

13 Mar 2024
Growing Scotland’s Economy
S6M-12457as amended by SNP
Carried
63 for, 51 against

Amendments

2

S6M-12457.1

Growing Scotland’s Economy
Murdo Fraser Con Lodged 12 Mar 2024

No recorded vote
S6M-12457.2

Growing Scotland’s Economy
Màiri McAllan SNP Lodged 12 Mar 2024

Carried
63 for, 50 against

Supporters

1 MSP

Lab 1

Show all 1 supporter by party

Lab 1

Rhoda Grant

Party shown is each supporter’s party when the motion was published.

In the Official Report

4 contributions mention S6M-12457

13 Mar 2024

Scotland’s Economy
Liam McArthur LD Meeting of the Parliament

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-12457, in the name of Daniel Johnson, on growing Scotland’s economy. I invite members who wish to speak in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons. I advise members that there …
13 Mar 2024

Decision Time
Alison Johnstone Meeting of the Parliament

I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Màiri McAllan is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Murdo Fraser will fall. The next question is, that amendment S6M-12457.2, in the name of Màiri McAllan, which seeks to amend mo…
13 Mar 2024

Decision Time
Alison Johnstone Meeting of the Parliament

The amendment in the name of Murdo Fraser falls. The next question is, that motion S6M-12457, in the name of Daniel Johnson, on growing Scotland’s economy, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
13 Mar 2024

Decision Time
Alison Johnstone Meeting of the Parliament

The result of the division on motion S6M-12457, in the name of Daniel Johnson, on growing Scotland’s economy, as amended, is: For 63, Against 51, Abstentions 0. Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parliament notes that, since 2007, Sco…