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Retailers (Financial Assistance)
Scottish Executive Question Time — Finance and Sustainable Growth
2:15 pm
Stuart McMillan (Scottish National Party)
To ask the Scottish Government what financial assistance it provides to retailers with the aim of creating jobs, supporting the local economy and bolstering tourism. (S3O-12424)
Jim Mather (Scottish National Party)
The Scottish Government recognises the vital role played by the retail sector with regard to employment, supporting local and regional economies, encouraging tourism and stimulating visitor numbers to Scotland and, in so doing, increasing sustainable economic growth. That is why we continue to support the sector through these challenging times. Last year, many retailers benefited from our £60 million investment in the regeneration and growth of our town centres, and we are prioritising skills and training and generating significant numbers of jobs in the Scottish economy through our economic recovery plan. There are encouraging signs that the approach is working, with Scottish retail output rising in the second quarter of this year, and we will continue to work closely with all parts of the sector through the Scottish Retail Consortium.
Stuart McMillan (Scottish National Party)
Recently, a constituent contacted me about the promotion of business and tourism opportunities in Inverclyde. His frustration at trying to move his project forward dates back to the time of the previous Scottish Executive, when money was sloshing about the enterprise agencies. Given the severe financial restrictions on the Scottish Government budget, what guarantees can be given to on-line businesses that are trying to promote economic growth and opportunities in Inverclyde and the west of Scotland?
Jim Mather (Scottish National Party)
The most widely used service for small and micro-businesses that are either getting started or growing is business gateway, which has offices in Greenock and other locations in the west of Scotland. Given the tourism element of the proposal highlighted by the member, I also think that VisitScotland would be happy to talk to his constituent.
I also point the individual in the direction of ScotlandIS and its moves to promote the use of e-commerce among more businesses. I think that, if
David Whitton (Labour)
It is interesting that the minister mentioned the town centre regeneration fund, which Labour, of course, called for. It was such a success that the Government cancelled it after a year, which was a pity. Does he think that the new levy on large businesses in Scotland—which will mean that they have to pay an extra £30 million, or the equivalent of 2,500 jobs—is such a good thing, given that it might well ending up costing jobs?
Jim Mather (Scottish National Party)
I recognise the member's negativity and his track record in terms of cuts that were in the first instance formulated by the Labour Party. However, he will have heard the First Minister's earlier message to the chamber about the broad shoulders of large businesses and the need to spread the burden to ensure that we come through all this with our town centres having the vibrancy that we want and without undoing the good work that has been done and which the member has just applauded.