Scottish Parliament – June 18, 2025 – 4

S6M-17981.1: As an amendment to motion S6M-17981 in the name of Murdo Fraser (Recognising the Economic Contribution of Scotland’s Defence Sector), insert at end “;

welcomes the confirmation from the UK Government that it will provide the funding for the welding skills centre so that the project does not collapse;

notes the contradiction in the Scottish Government’s policy, as the publicly owned Ferguson Marine shipyard is providing steel fabrication work for Type 26 frigates, and believes that this haphazard and misjudged policy is holding back the creation of jobs and economic growth in Scotland.”

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.