Connarty raises Skills gap concerns at Scottish Questions

Michael Connarty MP raised the issue of a skills gap in Scotland at Scottish Questions in the House of Commons today. The MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk has been receiving regular updates from local businesses concerned at the complete lack of funding from the Scottish Government for skills training in the Falkirk and West Lothian Council areas.

Michael said: "It beggars belief that the Scottish Government are not investing in skills, training and apprenticeships - we need to be training the workforce of the future particularly at times of economic uncertainty"

Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (Lab): Does my right hon. Friend agree that one of the energy industry’s problems is sourcing skills? Is he aware that his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills has earmarked £50 million for high-level skills training in the oil and gas industry, but that there is no such fund in Scotland? The Minister I wrote to in Scotland says that the Scottish Executive have no plan to deal with the problem in Scotland, but that they will bring out a report in the spring, two years after they were elected. Is it not a concern that Scotland may have to go to England to find trained, skilled workers to work in our energy industry?

Mr. Murphy: It is indeed a fact that the oil and gas industry in Scotland, as well as the energy sector more generally, needs access to the most highly skilled workers, not only from throughout the UK but from across the world. There is global competition for those highly skilled workers, which is why I, along with the industry, announced a working group to look into the issue. I share my hon. Friend’s concerns that if the Scottish Executive cannot ensure that Scotland has the highest quality workers and apprentices to exploit the opportunities in the oil and gas industry, that will be a blow to the Scottish economy.