Industrial transition in Scotland

Scottish Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 13 Feb 2025 Closed: 23 Mar 2026 Parliament page
The Committee’s work on industrial transition in Scotland has two parts. The first part of the inquiry considers Scotland’s industrial past, how its industrial landscape has changed over time, and the socio-economic impact of industrial transition on communities. The second part examines the future of Scotland’s industrial landscape and the … Read more
5 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
1 Letter
5 Events
Activity timeline 12 events
30 Jan
2026
Report published
29 Oct
2025
Oral evidence
29 Oct
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
10 Sep
2025
Oral evidence
10 Sep
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
3 Sep
2025
Correspondence
16 Jul
2025
Oral evidence
16 Jul
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
18 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
18 Jun
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
21 May
2025
Oral evidence
21 May
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
29 Oct 2025
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Industrial transition in Scotland – session 5
Dame Nancy Rothwell · Industrial Strategy Advisory Council Dave Moxham · Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) Leonie Lambert · Department for Business and Trade Sara Thiam · Prosper
10 Sep 2025
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Industrial transition in Scotland – session 4
Angela Carrigan · Community Union NEC Jacqui Murray · Warwick Manufacturing Group
16 Jul 2025
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Industrial transition – Future of shipbuilding #2 (Civilian shipbuilding)
Graeme Thomson · Ferguson Marine Tom Chant MBE · Society of Maritime Industries
18 Jun 2025
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Industrial transition – Future of shipbuilding
Professor John Howie MBE · Babcock International Sir Simon Lister · BAE Systems Naval Ships
21 May 2025
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Corey Beaton · Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce Councillor Altany Craik · The Industrial Communities Alliance (Scotland) Councillor Debbi McCall · Provost of Midlothian Councillor Norman Hampshire · East Lothian Council Councillor Stephen McCabe · Inverclyde Council Pauline Grandison · Coalfields Regeneration Trust
Title HC No. Published Items Response
5th Report - The work of the Committee in 2024-25, and Industria… HC 1651 30 Jan 2026 5
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
1 Conclusion
5th Report - The work of the Commi…
Scotland's deindustrialisation created lasting legacies of worklessness and health inequalities in unsupported communities.
Scotland’s experience of deindustrialisation over the past four decades demonstrates the profound and lasting consequences of industrial transition when communities are not properly supported. The loss of major industries has left a legacy of worklessness and health inequalities. Despite Scotland’s … Read more
Scotland Office
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2 Conclusion
5th Report - The work of the Commi…
Ensure future industrial transitions in Scotland support communities, retain skills, and prevent past mistakes.
As Scotland undergoes another major transition — this time in the oil and gas sector — there is an urgent need to avoid repeating past mistakes. Future industrial transitions must be a practical, deliverable commitment that supports communities, retains skills … Read more
Scotland Office
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3 Conclusion
5th Report - The work of the Commi…
Committee monitoring two major Scottish transitions for effective management and community benefits.
We have identified two transitions Scotland is currently undergoing, and have launched specific inquiries into these areas to ensure the UK Government is managing these transitions effectively: • GB Energy and the net zero transition, which examines the shift away … Read more
Scotland Office
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4 Conclusion
5th Report - The work of the Commi…
Industrial Strategy overlooks key high-value Scottish sectors, like spirits, limiting national growth opportunities.
While the Government Industrial Strategy’s IS-8 broadly reflects Scotland’s economic strengths, the omission of key high-value Scottish sectors such as spirits suggests the strategy does not fully capture the breadth of Scotland’s economic contribution. Scotland’s whisky industry alone is globally … Read more
Scotland Office
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5 Conclusion
5th Report - The work of the Commi…
Mandate a dedicated Scottish representative on the permanent Industrial Strategy Council in future legislation.
We welcome the establishment of a permanent Industrial Strategy Council when parliamentary time allows. However, while we acknowledge that there has been engagement between the council and Scottish stakeholders, we are concerned that the absence of a dedicated Scottish representative … Read more
Scotland Office
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Correspondence 1 letter
3 Sep 2025 Letter with the Chair and Ferguson Marine following up from 16 July session, dated 24 July 2025
Parliament page