Scottish Innovation Strategy

As an amendment to motion S6M-09594 in the name of Richard Lochhead (Scottish Innovation Strategy), leave out from first "welcomes" to end and insert "recognises the importance of driving innovation in Scotland, both within the public and private sectors, but believes that the current direction of the Scottish Government is creating barriers to growth and inhibiting innovation; further recognises that high taxes on individuals and businesses risk impacting on growth; regrets the reduction in the 2023-24 budget settlement to the enterprise agencies, which will reduce their ability to support Scottish businesses; acknowledges the challenges faced in the university sector for Scottish students due to high levels of competition and the resulting impact that has on the ability to train, in the numbers required, sufficiently skilled workers to drive and support innovation; believes that leaving the United Kingdom would severely damage Scotland’s ability to succeed by creating a border across the vital UK single market, creating significant challenges for businesses to trade and operate across the United Kingdom, and would cost the Scottish economy billions of pounds, reducing the ability to foster a strong, vibrant and innovative economy, and believes that Scotland’s success lies in cooperation across the United Kingdom, economic policies which provide Scotland with a competitive advantage, proper investment in infrastructure to benefit businesses and communities, and a Scottish Government with a firm grasp on public finances to build business confidence and drive innovation."