1. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action that it is taking to support the Ayrshire economy, including the Ayrshire growth deal. (S5O-04509)

The Scottish Government has committed £103 million to the Ayrshire growth deal to protect existing jobs, create new jobs and extend economic opportunity to communities across Ayrshire. In addition, we have provided more than £77 million in grant funding to Ayrshire businesses as part of our response to the impact of Covid-19 on our economy.

We recognise the contribution that Ayrshire makes to the national economy, and are working with local authorities and other regional partners to ensure that the Ayrshire growth deal is signed as soon as possible.

The Cabinet secretary will be aware that a number of businesses in my Constituency have closed over the past couple of years and we are all eagerly awaiting the growth deal project being signed off next month. Will the Government consider additional support for Ayrshire, such as road and rail investments, or reprofiling the growth deal project over the shorter term to assist us to overcome the impact of Covid on the local economy?

I am aware of the closures that Willie Coffey referred to and acutely aware of the impact on local people and communities. That is why we want to get the Ayrshire growth deal signed as soon as possible. It will be very important for the aerospace industry, for example, which is why we are keen for the deal to be signed sooner rather than later. With regard to the profiling of the new investment, our officials will need to be in regular contact with the three Ayrshire local authorities about it, and we will continue that dialogue and quickly take forward any action that has the potential to protect and create good-quality jobs across Ayrshire.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

We have a brief supplementary from Brian Whittle.

Transport Scotland has suggested that the Ayrshire growth deal may be problematic around the Moorfield industrial estate in East Ayrshire if the Bellfield interchange is not updated. Has the Cabinet secretary spoken with Transport Scotland or the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity to seek a solution to the potential increase in traffic flow?

As the member has identified, the transport issues are for the transport secretary, and, indeed, the growth deals are the responsibility of Michael Matheson, as the Cabinet secretary with responsibility for transport and infrastructure

. I will draw his attention to the member’s concerns, and I am sure that Transport Scotland will already have let him know about the issue. However, the member’s question underlines how all the agencies, as well as the local authorities in Ayrshire, have to work together, which is why we are keen to get the United Kingdom Government to agree to sign the Ayrshire growth deal as soon as possible. I understand that Scotland Office ministers, too, are keen for it to happen; I think the issue lies with the Treasury, so we will impress on the Treasury that it will improve the situation if we can get ahead with the Ayrshire growth deal and have it signed.