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Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn promised to remove the barriers to growth as he set out the Scottish government\u2019s plan to encourage enterprise.<\/p>\n
Confirming the establishment of a High Growth Unit, he also indicated to parliament that it should support oil and gas jobs while creating new jobs in clean energies.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor investors we know that the process of moving from idea to implementation can often be too sticky and too slow,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is why this government will create a major projects office to accelerate progress on nationally and strategically significant investment projects.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will unlock barriers and unlock private investment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Labour\u2019s economy spokesman Daniel Johnson asked: \u201cWhile it is welcome to facilitate high growth, is there not a danger of duplication in creating this unit? Isn\u2019t that what Scottish Enterprise is for and is there any intent to reform the enterprise agencies?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Flynn replied: \u201cI don\u2019t believe there will be any duplication. I certainly will make sure that\u2019s not the case.\u201d<\/p>\n
On cutting barriers, he added: \u201cWe have a responsibility as a parliament to make sure that when we regulate we do so simply, flexibly and as a last resort.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the innovators we know that too often it can be too easy to find the capital to support their ideas, not here in Scotland, but abroad. We want you to stay in Scotland. We want you to scale in Scotland. Because your success is our collective success.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is why this government will create a new High Growth unit to provide the wrap-around support you need. It will build upon the support of our enterprise agencies and our investment bank.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it is not enough on its own. So we will use the power of public sector procurement to stimulate innovation and provide new business opportunities for Scottish companies, and we will empower our regional economies to thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n Commenting on the energy transition, he said: \u201cTo be clear, this parliament must fight to protect the energy jobs that we have today but also be big enough to back the energy opportunities of tomorrow. <\/p>\n \u201cThe wind, solar and pump storage opportunities that will not only provide us with clean energy but will allow us to create new jobs and build the expertise we need to export our skills across the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Conservative member Finlay Carson accused the government of failing to take communities in rural Scotland with them to prevent the industrialisation of rural scotland and the spread of turbines and data centres.<\/p>\n Challenging the claims of the minister, Mr Johnson said faster growth in areas of England, such as Manchester, showed that \u201csomething is happening in England\u2019s regions that is not happening in Scotland\u201d.<\/p>\n Reform UK Scotland leader and spokesman on the economy, Malcolm Offord said: \u201cHow about we adopt some policies that drive economic growth?\u201d<\/p>\n He said the SNP government had pushed spending and tax to record levels.<\/p>\n \u201cSix income tax bands make Scots the highest taxed in the UK, driving productivity down, energy costs are at a record high level, employment taxes at a record high level, minimum wages at a record high level and business rates at a record high level. Is there any surprise when I speak to SME owners that they just shake their heads in despair?<\/p>\n \u201cIt is time for a reset. We need to build a wealth economy, not a welfare economy.\u201d<\/p>\n He said it was necessary to focus on SMEs which were loyal and local, unlike the large multinationals which would seek out the lowest cost countries to base their operations. He said cutting taxes would increase the tax take, as shown in countries such as Sweden.<\/p>\n For the Conservatives, Rachael Hamilton also criticised high taxes on businesses and called for action on the revaluation of business rates.<\/p>\n Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur said there was a lot of frustration among the public at the SNP government over promising and under delivering.<\/p>\n Patrick Harvie, speaking for the Scottish Greens, argued for greater taxation on the wealthy to create a more equal society. <\/p>\n \t <\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Daniel-Johnson-2026-09-08-at-15.48.48.png\")