Brown urges Treasury to adopt plan to protect economy in wake of EU vote.

The UK Government needs to take urgent action to support the efforts of the Scottish Government to stimulate growth in the wake of the EU referendum vote, Keith Brown said today.

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work has called on the Treasury to follow the Scottish example and bring forward a stimulus package based on increased capital spending.

An increase in UK infrastructure spend of £5 billion could provide an additional £400 million spend in Scotland, supporting around 3,000 jobs.

Mr Brown was speaking ahead of today’s (Tuesday) Parliamentary debate that will consider the £100 million capital stimulus package already put in place by the Scottish Government to keep the economy moving.

Along with increased capital spending, Mr Brown also said the Treasury could nurture growth by providing further support for exporting companies as the depreciation of Sterling provides an opportunity for companies to either move into new export markets, or start exporting for the first time.

Mr Brown said:

“The UK Government’s continued austerity means we are already facing a 10% real terms cuts to our budget over 10 years to 2020 and now the UK wide vote for Brexit threatens to make those cuts even harder.

“The Fraser of Allander report, out last week, shows that Brexit has put Scotland’s economy and our public services at further risk of cuts from Westminster.

“In contrast, the Scottish Government has acted swiftly to support the economy following the UK wide vote to leave the EU by bringing forward an additional £100 million of capital investment, setting out plans for a £500 million Scottish Growth Scheme to support businesses and working hard to secure Scotland’s continued place in the EU. The Scottish Parliament will have a full opportunity to debate our Scottish stimulus package this afternoon.

“But we haven’t seen the same action forthcoming at a UK level – where clarity on Brexit remains completely absent.

“However, there are actions the Treasury could take as a matter of urgency to help our businesses. Primary among them is increased capital spending, that would allow us to build on our own stimulus package, protecting and creating jobs. Further support exports at a UK level, would also help us add to what we are already doing in this area in Scotland and nurture increased growth. I am calling for the Treasury to take this action as a clear plan for how the UK Government can help at this critical juncture for our economy.

“Last week’s employment figures show our unemployment rate is now lower than the UK as a whole. But a failure to act at a UK level could put that really encouraging progress in jeopardy.

“Our priority will continue to be protecting our economy, while also working to preserve our EU membership and access to the single market. I hope the UK Government will act to support our efforts – in the Autumn Statement as a minimum, but ideally in shorter order than that.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/UK-Government-must-act-to-support-jobs-in-Scotland-2b57.aspx

First Minister opens new Statoil Headquarters.

The oil and gas industry still has a strong future in Scotland, despite its current challenges, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today as she announced new activity and investment in the sector.

She officially opened the new headquarters of Statoil in Aberdeen, as she provided an update on how initiatives to support the industry are progressing.

The new Statoil HQ is part of the company’s plans to expand its operation in the North Sea and by 2018 Statoil expects to employ up to 200 employees onshore and up to 500 positions offshore in the full team.

In addition, more than a thousand jobs will be supported in the supply chain as Statoil develops the Mariner field, with work expected to start in the summer of 2017.

Statoil’s expansion plans in both oil and gas and renewables demonstrate the versatility of Scotland’s energy sector, with Statoil also investing in offshore wind through the Hywind project – the world’s first floating offshore wind development, off the coast of Peterhead.

Ahead of a meeting with Oil & Gas UK, the First Minister also confirmed that the first 600 people have had applications approved for the three-year Transition Training Fund, launched in February to help Scotland retain the skills developed through the oil and gas industry.

She also announced that around 70 innovation projects with a total project value of around £16 million have benefited from £7 million of Scottish Government support to help firms reduce the risks associated with research and development. A further £1.1m has been invested to support business resilience in the oil and gas industry.

The First Minister said:

“The expertise that Scottish oil and gas firms have built up over many decades has positioned our energy sector as a world leader and while we realise that the industry and workforce is going through a difficult time, this investment and expansion from Statoil is a vote of confidence in the North Sea’s future.

“Last week’s Oil and Gas Production statistics demonstrate that the industry is adapting to the current period of low prices, but what the industry must be ready to do is to capitalise when the upturn comes.

“We are doing everything we can to support the sector. Only half way through the first year of our three-year Transition Training Fund, launched in February, already 600 people have had their applications for support approved, and separately, we’ve committed £1.1 million to projects to boost business resilience.

“In conjunction with the efforts of the Energy Jobs Taskforce, our Enterprise Agencies have now engaged with more than 700 companies in the oil and gas sector, and will continue to identify where help is most needed and lay foundations for the future of our energy sector.”

“Statoil is demonstrating its willingness to diversify through the Hywind and Batwind renewable energy projects, again using the world leading expertise and skills of Scotland’s workforce. We are committed to working with firms like Statoil to support Scotland’s mixed energy sector and prepare it for a positive future.”

Hedda Felin, Managing Director of Statoil Production UK, said:

“Statoil has a long term commitment to Scotland and to the UK Continental Shelf, as this new operations centre visibly demonstrates. Starting with just a handful of employees in the spring of 2013, Statoil has grown its workforce in Aberdeen to around 140. This autumn we will initiate another significant recruitment process, with around 40 open positions to be filled in coming months.”

The Mariner heavy oil field is progressing as planned and Statoil expects to commence production in 2018, with production expected for 30 years.

During her visit, the First Minister saw a model of the Noble Lloyd Noble jack up rig. The rig has just arrived in Scotland and will be berthed at Global Energy’s Nigg Energy Park before being positioned offshore in the Mariner field.

The rig will start drilling around November and stay in the Mariner field for four years.

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Oil-and-Gas-expansion-2b53.aspx

Unlocking untapped potential within Scotland.

Empowering BBC Scotland will allow the corporation to address audience concerns and deliver better programming, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop has said.

The UK Government’s renewal of the BBC Charter was published on Thursday, but the Scottish Government says the proposals do not deliver fully for the Scottish audience. Key asks were rejected, including; ensuring a fairer share of the licence fee money raised in Scotland is spent on productions made here and a move towards parity with S4C to enable MG Alba to increase Gaelic output.

The Scottish Government’s broadcasting blueprint, which was formed following positive and constructive discussions with the BBC, BBC Trust, Ofcom, the Scottish screen sector and a wide range of stakeholders across the nation, calls on the UK Government to go further and for the BBC to empower BBC Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to on-going engagement with BBC Scotland, offering its full support and assistance so the BBC in Scotland can realise its true potential. The Cabinet Secretary will also continue to meet with senior figures from the BBC and Ofcom, including the Director General, Lord Hall and Sharon White, Ofcom Chief Executive to progress the Scottish ask.

Ms Hyslop said:

“This has been a critical year for the BBC. It’s a year during which we have all worked together, in good faith, to help shape the next chapter in the BBC’s story. We cannot and will not settle for the status quo. We have an opportunity to ensure that the BBC keeps up with and reflects wider social and constitutional changes.

“I want to speak to what I believe is the sheer scale of untapped potential in Scotland that the BBC could utilise. Within BBC Scotland the corporation is fortunate to have some of the most gifted broadcasters, technical staff, and creative talent in the world. Scotland also has a wealth of independent production talent across a range of genres that the BBC could tap into and better commission.

“We support the ambitions of BBC Scotland staff to be a high quality broadcaster for the people of Scotland, but their ambitions will only be realised with increased investment and the decentralisation of commissioning authority away from Broadcasting House in London into Pacific Quay.

“With a far fairer share of the licence fee raised in Scotland being invested here we could see an additional £100 million spent delivering quality TV and radio output, supporting the growth of our creative industries. It’s estimated that for every £100 million of production spend in Scotland, around 1,500 jobs will be supported and will contribute £60 million to the Scottish economy.

“Audiences expect more and I want BBC Scotland to be empowered to harness this potential for Scottish audiences. I want to see their expertise and talent at work, delivering for Scotland, contributing to network schedules, and having the confidence and financial support to deliver on TV, radio, and online, in news, drama, children’s, comedy, current affairs, and factual entrainment.

“Empowering BBC Scotland in this way does not require changes through the Charter to be delivered; it just needs BBC itself to recognise the opportunity before them to transform broadcasting in Scotland.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Future-of-the-BBC-2b37.aspx

SNP Growth Commission (By Alex Aitchison)

In 2014, Scotland voted to remain in a UK that was part of the European Union.

However, the result of the June 2016 referendum raises the prospect of Scotland being taken out of the EU against the stated will of the Scottish electorate.

The resultant economic and social upheaval and damage to our international relationships is a material risk to the economy and the wellbeing of our citizens.

Independence is one of the options open to the people of Scotland to choose a different course – to protect Scotland’s place in the EU and, in an uncertain environment, gain more control over the decisions that will shape our economy and society.

The context of a second independence referendum would be very different from that of 2014 and therefore it is important to look afresh at the challenges and opportunities.

What remains constant is the desire of many for independence to be a route to a fairer and more socially just Scotland. A strong and stable economy is essential to achieving that.

To address that desire and consider the steps an independent Scotland would require to take to secure a strong, stable and inclusive economy, a Growth Commission is being established by the SNP Leader.

The Commission will be chaired by former MSP, Andrew Wilson. Its membership includes senior figures from business, economics, politics and academia and it will draw, where appropriate, on externally commissioned research and expertise.

The work of the Commission is primarily intended to inform SNP policy but will seek to draw on views from across the political spectrum. Members of the Commission are taking part in a personal capacity and membership of the Commission does not indicate support or membership of the SNP. An initial report will be submitted to the SNP Leader by the end of 2016.

COMMISSION REMIT

The Commission will assess the projections for Scotland’s economy and public finances, consider the implications for our economy and finances of different potential governance scenarios, and make recommendations for policy on:

Measures to boost economic growth and improve Scotland’s public finances – both now in the aftermath of the EU referendum and in the context of independence;
The potential for and best use of savings from UK programmes in the event of independence, such as Trident;
The range of transitional cost and benefits associated with independence and arrangements for dealing with future revenue windfalls, including future North Sea Revenues.
In addition, the Commission will take account of the recommendations of the 2013 Fiscal Commission reports, and the outcome of the EU referendum, and consider the most appropriate monetary policy arrangements to underpin a programme for sustainable growth in an independent Scotland.

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://www.snp.org/snp_growth_commission