Encouraging investment and growth is key
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LAST week I was delighted to celebrate three Ross-shire businesses with a widely supported parliamentary motion. Alness based Aquascot, Cullisse Highland rapeseed oil and Kishorn Seafood Bar were winners at the Highlands and Islands Food and Drinks Awards 2012 among the fine producers we have in our midst.
That’s innovation and excellence supported by Scotland’s food and drink policy initiated by the SNP Government that is a huge success story at home and abroad. To be even better however, Scotland needs the full levers of tax powers to back more success in our local and national economy.
At a highly successful SNP Conference in Perth John Swinney announced more support for budding entrepreneurs. Along with our enterprise agencies, our banks and business hothouse Entrepreneurial Spark it has created a new £1million fund to find the best in new Scottish business called The Scottish EDGE to help accelerate innovative business ideas.
It will invest up to £50,000 in entrepreneurial businesses to stimulate economic growth, giving them an edge as they grow. What’s more, they will have the help of Scotland’s business leaders with an Investment Panel of Scotland’s leading entrepreneurs.
Encouraging investment and business growth across our country is key. Home-based consumers and purchasers are essential but export markets often have roots here in Ross-shire. We trade seafood and whisky, beef and lamb with discerning overseas customers.
THE opposition has disputed Scotland’s continued membership of the European Union.
I am indebted to a Tain resident who reminds us that we have been citizens of Europe since the Maastricht Treaty signed by Mrs Thatcher 40 years ago. Scotland is an EU "member in waiting" and cutting through the politics, we would be accepted very quickly upon voting YES to independence.
We contribute 9.6 per cent of UK taxes to receive 9.3 per cent of spending. Our oil and gas reserves have another fifty years, bountiful renewables and the food and drink plus a large portion of European fish stocks underpin a strong bargaining position. Scotland is a European nation, don’t let the Westminster obsession with rebates and semidetached status get in our way.
Additionally, the Conference decided in the defence debate that removing Trident nuclear missiles from an independent Scotland was an essential step for any approach to NATO with a view to membership after 2016.
I am sorry two of my Highland MSP colleagues found it impossible to accept a democratic decision of the party conference. Many of us will keep this issue under scrutiny from within the SNP as NATO will be much less attractive by the time Scotland is able to decide to stay in or leave in 2016.
MY Holyrood committee has called on the new Environment and Agriculture Minister Owen Paterson in the ConDem government meet us. He is at odds with Scottish farming opinion on the need to support high quality food producers in a country with 85 per cent less favoured areas LFAs, or areas of natural constraint in the new Common Agriculture parlance. In contrast England has only 15 per cent LFAs.
We need our own Richard Lochhead, the longest serving Agriculture Minister in these islands at the top table in EU negotiations. London won’t allow it.
The alternative to Scotland flourishing as an independent country – in charge of our own resources and decision making – is there for all to see in Westminster’s abysmal record.
The economic difficulties we face are a product of the failed economic management of the last Labour Government and the current ConDem Coalition.
We know that between Labour and the Tories, the double dip recession has "Made in London" stamped all over it.
The substantial Highland YES campaign launch last Saturday in Inverness can help us move out of the UK bear hug. YES is the foundation for a hopeful future.
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Rob.gibson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
