Scottish Parliament – June 18, 2025 – 5

S6M-17981.2: 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 "recognises" to end and insert "notes with concern that, despite the Scottish Government’s policy that public funds to the defence industry should focus on diversification, at least £8 million of Scottish Enterprise grants have been awarded to companies involved in arms dealing and manufacturing since 2019;

further notes that a number of these businesses have directly supplied weapons and military equipment to Israel during its assault on Gaza;

understands that, despite this, still no company has failed Scottish Enterprise human rights due diligence checks, and calls, therefore, on the Scottish Government to urgently report on its promised review of Scottish Enterprise’s human rights checks before the summer recess and to provide Scottish Enterprise with a clear direction on the use of public funds to ensure that Scotland meets its international obligations."

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.