PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN SCOTLAND (20 May 2018)

That this House welcomes the announcement by the Government to drive more foreign investment into the UK; recognises that foreign direct investment and growth is important to all parts of the country; congratulates the six Scottish companies being officially recognised for their excellence in international trade; notes that nine of the projects being supported by the investment drive are based in Scotland and will be worth more than £2 billion to the Scottish economy; further notes that the Edinburgh International Business Gateway is one of the projects that will benefit with a £185 million investment; agrees with Carolyn Fairbairn, Director of the Confederation of British Industry, that businesses will welcome the added investment and that communities will experience the resulting benefits of free trade that will lead to more jobs and prosperity; welcomes the news that the High Potential Opportunities Scheme will be extended to other parts of the UK, including Scotland, following its pilot scheme so that more than 20 sectors and parts of the UK will benefit from further investment; and calls on the Government to encourage business organisations, local enterprise partnerships and councils to consider making an application to the scheme.

Sponsored by:
Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat)