Scottish Questions - Commonwealth Games

Scottish Affairs

09-Jul-2008

Mr. Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) (LD): May I through you, Mr. Speaker, take this opportunity to pay tribute to David Marshall? He was a stalwart of Scottish questions and will be sorely missed in the Chamber. He had many friends across the House and we on these Benches wish to express all our best wishes to him and his family. If he were here, I am sure that he would also be pressing the Minister on this issue. We are all ambitious for the opportunities that the Commonwealth games will give Glasgow and the rest of Scotland. More immediately, however, is the Minister not alarmed by the fact that so far only 2 per cent. of the contracts awarded to businesses for the 2012 Olympic games have come to Scottish businesses? Is that not symptomatic of how Labour has taken its eye off the ball and become out of touch with Scotland’s needs?

David Cairns: No, the hon. Gentleman is not right about that, but he is right to pay tribute to David Marshall. He was an outstanding Member of Parliament for 29 years, a very assiduous attender of Scottish questions and one who never feared to hold Governments to account, whatever their political persuasion.

The Commonwealth games are a magnificent opportunity for Glasgow, not just for the fact that people from all over the world will come to visit or for the sporting success and legacy but for the massive investment that there will be in the city. We anticipate that up to 5,000 apprenticeship places—2,000 in the construction industry alone—will be offered as a result of the work going on between Glasgow city council and the Department for Work and Pensions. I think that the games will be a success, however one looks at them.

The hon. Gentleman asked about the Olympics, and I encourage all businesses, Scottish-based or otherwise, to bid for the contracts. It is important to look at the value of some of the contracts, and not just their overall number. Scottish companies have won parts of the Olympic business that are of considerable value.

View a full transcript of this speech

---