Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 3 September 2025.
Tim Eagle
Conservative
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how growth deals are growing the economy of the Highlands and Islands region. (S6O-04871)
Kate Forbes
Scottish National Party
The substantial £242.5 million that we are investing in four growth deals across the Highlands and Islands will empower and enable regional partners to deliver a wide range of projects that are tailored to local needs and circumstances. Those projects, which have been chosen by local partners for their areas, will deliver infrastructure, housing, skills, transport and innovation to drive economic growth at local and regional level and secure lasting benefits.
Tim Eagle
Conservative
The growth deals are delivering jobs, infrastructure and certainty of investment, as was highlighted in the recent Economy and Fair Work Committee report. However, current levels of inflation remain an on-going concern. There is scope to further extend the benefits of the growth deals in areas such as Moray by ensuring that any just transition funds are split fairly and by actively supporting other projects along the energy corridor between Aberdeen and the green freeport in Invergordon.
Can the Government confirm that it is monitoring the effects of inflation and its impact on projects and that it will ensure that the just transition funding that impacts Moray, which has the potential to expand the projects in the area under the growth deal, is split fairly between the three council areas?
Kate Forbes
Scottish National Party
The member raises a number of important issues that are high on my list of priorities. He mentioned the impact of inflation. We remain closely involved with each of the growth deals in order to understand what is affecting progress, particularly when it comes to infrastructure.
The member also mentioned other schemes, such as the just transition fund. It has long been my view that growth deals established a different way of operating. That tripartite arrangement between the Scottish Government, the United Kingdom Government and local authorities has worked really well, and I think that it is a great model for the future.
Calls have been made for a second phase of growth deals, and we are very happy to continue to engage with the other participants in the tripartite arrangement—the UK Government and local authorities—to look at how we can progress that. However, the member was right to refer to the funding that is available right now, which can be delivered in response to applications that are made. I could go into detail on the various projects that have already benefited from just transition funding, but I will simply say that I have been really impressed by what local partners have delivered with the funding that they have received.
Alasdair Allan
Scottish National Party
I apologise for being slightly late in getting to the chamber.
With the islands growth deal now in its delivery phase, positive outcomes are already evident, such as the recent completion of the £2.3 million University of the Highlands and Islands north-west and Hebrides campus transformation project. Can the Government give an update on some of the many other ways in which, working in conjunction with the deal, the Scottish Government continues to support the growth of economies across the Highlands and Islands?
Kate Forbes
Scottish National Party
There is a long list of ways in which we are doing that. The list is probably too long to go into in this question-and-answer session, but I am more than happy to give Mr Allan chapter and verse in writing. It could include our allocation this financial year of more than £56 million to Highlands and Islands Enterprise to support its work with businesses and communities across the region. We have also approved £7.5 million of funding to support community investments, which is helping 30 community anchor organisations provide vital services for their communities.
There is the £33.7 million to develop Stornoway deep-water port on the Isle of Lewis, which is a key piece of infrastructure that is needed to optimise opportunities for tourism and renewable energy for the Highlands. The Scottish Futures Trust estimates that that development is capable of unlocking between £5 billion and £7 billion over the next decade.
There is also direct investment specific to our islands in this year’s budget, including the provision of £9 million to island-focused investments, in addition to the continued support that we are providing across portfolios such as transport, housing and health.
As I have said, it is a very long list, and I am more than happy to give Mr Allan the detail in writing.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
