Oral Answers to Questions

Steven Bonnar Excerpts

Wednesday 17th May 2023 Commons Chamber

[Alyn Smith (Stirling) (SNP)]

7. What recent steps he has taken with the Scottish Government to promote Scotland overseas.

[Steven Bonnar (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (SNP)]

10. What recent steps he has taken with the Scottish Government to promote Scotland overseas.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Alister Jack)]

As the UK Government in Scotland, we have an important role in promoting Scotland internationally. The Scotland Office, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Department for Business and Trade, and Scottish Development International work together to identify opportunities for trade and investment—a recent example being the Tartan Week celebrations held in New York.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Jack]

The UK wants to promote Scotland’s food and drink industry and to promote renewables and the sale of renewables—for instance, to Vietnam—and we do that through trade deals. I say to the SNP: “Get behind the UK Government. Get behind the trade deals we’re doing. You’ve never found one you liked so far. Start supporting them!”

[Steven Bonnar]

For the seventh year in a row, Scotland has been ranked the best performing nation or region outside London for foreign direct investment. That continues the trend of Scotland being the best performing nation in the United Kingdom. This investment has been achieved by the Scottish Government working to promote Scotland’s culture, innovative research and industrial strength overseas. Rather than continuing to undermine the work of the Scottish Government, should the right hon. Gentleman’s Government not be learning lessons from them on how to encourage wider foreign investment into England?

[Mr Jack]

The hon. Gentleman should not be taking all the credit: that work is done by the United Kingdom Government. We have 282 embassies, high commissions and consulates in 180 countries, we work very hard promoting Scotland’s interests overseas and Scotland has a wonderful Foreign Secretary in the form of my right hon. Friend the Member for Braintree (James Cleverly).