Chamber and committees

Getting back to rail, I accept that you are not the transport minister, but we have recently seen the UK Government reduce the extent of the route for high speed 2. It seems to have become nothing more than a London to Birmingham shuttle. Given that the justification for HS2 was to free up capacity on the existing network for local trains and more freight, is there an impact on Scottish exporters who were looking to use rail freight? I highlight the example of the large supermarket that has introduced trains carrying fresh produce from Spain to Scotland, which has helped with supply chain resilience. What impact do you think the restrictions on the HS2 route have had on the ability to move freight on to rail?

Given that we have tried to amend the bill, where does that leave us in moving forward on that issue?

It would be helpful if he would expand on the economic recovery from the pandemic.

Thank you.

Cabinet secretary, how do we measure the impact of the enterprise agencies’ activities, in particular in the national performance framework?

I believe that it was in the region of £56 million last year. Is that correct?

I will continue the conversation on enterprise agencies. You have said that their budget is the highest in recent years and that it has increased by 7 per cent. What other revenue streams, such as investment income, are available to the enterprise agencies? How is the £370 million that is the baseline investment in the enterprise agencies being used to support our economic recovery, especially as we come out of the pandemic?

Minister, I want to ask you about the power to refer to the Competition and Markets Authority. In last week’s evidence, one witness said:

“it must be possible for the devolved Administrations to have recourse if they feel that activities in England are undermining their competitiveness or their own markets.”

Another witness said:

“Amendments to that effect were tabled in the House of Commons ... The amendments were voted down.”—[Official Report, Economy and Fair Work Committee, 12 January 2022; c 33, 31.]

Given that the Scottish Government has responsibility for economic development, will having to go to the secretary of state to make such a referral undermine the devolution settlement?

On another similar issue, the CMA has a subsidy advice unit. The House of Commons heard from the Institute for Government, which said that the unit

“should have a membership and input reflecting its four-nation role in the UK and ... it is appropriate that there be better devolved representation.” —[Official Report, House of Commons, Subsidy Control Bill Public Bill Committee, 26 October 2021; c 32.]

Given where we are with the bill, is there any scope for that still to happen?

Do you have any concerns about Scotland’s ability to attract foreign investment projects?

Thanks, convener. I knew who you meant.

I will ask three very quick questions, given the time constraints. The first one is on inward investment. Scotland has been very successful since 2014 in being the most popular area for inward investment outside London. What impact could the Subsidy Control Bill have on Scotland’s ability to attract foreign investment, given that we have to take into consideration competition impacts across the UK?

Secondly, we talked about how the Scottish and Welsh Governments could approach the secretary of state if they had concerns about subsidies being awarded elsewhere. Given that the Scottish Government has responsibility for economic development, will having to go the secretary of state undermine the devolution settlement?

Lastly, how can we ensure that the membership of the CMA subsidy advice unit reflects the four Governments of the UK, and should the devolved Governments have a say on, or input into, membership of that unit? The question is for Mr Peretz first, please.