Scottish Government Debate: Transition to a Wellbeing Economy

John Swinney S6M-08305 That the Parliament recognises Scotland’s international leadership in the transition to a wellbeing economy, by not only growing but transforming the economy to one that serves current and future generations, and delivers a prosperous, socially-just Scotland within safe environmental limits, where everyone can flourish; notes that this remains a defining mission for the Scottish Government, including through its leadership in forming the Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo) group and delivery of the National Strategy for Economic Transformation; agrees that the delivery of a wellbeing economy requires a worker- and community-led just transition to a net-zero, nature-positive economy that has equality, human rights and fair work at its heart, enabling Scotland to tackle child poverty, empower communities, build community wealth and create a socially-just society; notes the publication of the Wellbeing Economy Monitor, which tracks broader outcomes beyond GDP on issues such as health, equality, fair work and the environment, and the Wellbeing Economy Toolkit, which supports place-based economic development; commends the work of the Cross-party Group on Wellbeing Economy and partners across Scotland, and recognises that independence would allow Scotland to make greater progress, but, until then, calls for the devolution of energy and additional economic powers to the Scottish Parliament to support Scotland's transition to a wellbeing economy. Liz Smith S6M-08305.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-08305 in the name of John Swinney (Transition to a Wellbeing Economy), leave out from the first “recognises” to end and insert “believes that the pursuit of economic growth and widening the tax base is an immediate priority for Scotland, and further believes that these priorities are essential to underpin the delivery of a wellbeing economy.” Daniel Johnson S6M-08305.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-08305 in the name of John Swinney (Transition to a Wellbeing Economy), leave out from “international leadership” to end and insert “potential to be an international leader in the transition to a wellbeing economy, like the Labour administration in New Zealand; agrees that the delivery of a wellbeing economy requires a worker- and community-led just transition to a net-zero, nature-positive economy that has equality, human rights and fair work at its heart, enabling Scotland to tackle child poverty, empower communities, build community wealth and create a socially-just society; commends the work of the Cross-party Group on Wellbeing Economy and partners across Scotland; notes the publication of the Wellbeing Economy Monitor, which tracks broader outcomes beyond GDP on issues such as health, equality, fair work and the environment, and the Wellbeing Economy Toolkit, which supports place-based economic development; believes that the Scottish Government should be doing more to deliver environmental sustainability, including through the delivery of rapid insulation programmes, which would help people improve the energy efficiency of homes and lower energy bills, and notes that sustainable economic growth will be required to successfully deliver a wellbeing economy and a just transition, including by using the extensive powers available to the Scottish Government to create jobs, upskill workers, grow Scottish businesses and channel more investment into high-growth, innovative firms of the future, ensuring that everyone in Scotland benefits from Scotland’s prosperity.”