Scottish Parliament – June 18, 2025 – 3

S6M-17981.3: As an amendment to motion S6M-17981 in the name of Murdo Fraser (Recognising the Economic Contribution of Scotland’s Defence Sector), leave out from “;

notes” to end and insert “, and in protecting national security, especially at a time of increased global instability, and notes that defence is a matter reserved to the UK Government under the Scotland Act 1998 and that the Scottish Government’s long-standing position is that public money should focus on diversification.”  

Original motion(S6M-17981): That the Parliament recognises the significance of the defence industry to Scotland’s economy, in providing secure, well-paid and highly skilled jobs and in driving innovation in the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) sector;

notes that proposed increased spending on defence provides a substantial opportunity for growth;

regrets that Scottish Government policy has meant that a Scottish Enterprise grant to support the Rolls-Royce specialist naval welding skills centre in Glasgow for submarine construction has been refused, and calls on the Scottish Government to drop the policy, which prevents public funds being invested in projects such as this.