Good night from Holyrood Live on Tuesday 6 November 2018.

The Scottish government said it will leave "no stone unturned" in its efforts to keep the Michelin tyre plant in Dundee open.

Scotland's economy secretary Derek Mackay said he will convene an action group to "explore all options to secure a sustainable future for the site."

He was updating MSPs in parliament on his work, after the company announced its closure within two years.

Labour MSP Jenny Marra said the news was devastating and called for more cash for the city.

Image source, bbc

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson accepts campaigners have been calling for the Maybole bypass for 70 years.

"The good news, presiding officer, is this government is going to deliver the Maybole bypass," says Mr Matheson.

He tells the chamber that the procurement process should be completed by November this year, with a contractor chosen.

Mr Mackay says there will be significant benefits for those who live and reside in the Maybole area, reducing the traffic going through the town by 50%, with a reduction in heavy goods vehicles of some 90%.

Image source, Google

The Ayr Advertiser explained last December that four companies had been invited to participate in the procurement process:

• Farrans Roadbridge
• John Paul Construction
• R j McLeod
• Wills Bros

Read the article here., external

Labour MSP Colin Smyth says the south of Scotland is a "forgotten region" when it comes to investment in transport.

The A75 and A77 carry billions of pounds of products and services to and from Northern Ireland every year, he says.

Yet Dumfries and Galloway remains the lowest paid part of the UK, Mr Smyth adds.

The roads aren't acting as economic pipelines, they are currently a strange-hold on economic growth the Labour MSP argues.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Brian Whittle highlights the efforts of the A75 and A77 action groups and the pledges to listen by the Scottish government since 2010.

Mr Whittle says he has a map on his wall showing all Scotalnd's trunk roads and the A75 and A77 are littered with 20mph and 30mph limits.

The Tory MSP says once you get to the M74 you can get all the way to Barcelona without coming across these speed limits.

"The South West of Scotland is actually being ignored", he says.

SNP MSP Emma Harper praises the Maybole Bypass Committee for campaigning for the project over several years.

A number of A-roads in south Scotland are vital for the economy, tourists and emergency services, she says.

But the roads are not fit for current travel and haulage purposes, Ms Harper states.

The SNP MSP points to concerns that hauliers are avoiding using the A75 and are instead going to Holyhead to access Ireland due to poor roads and the speed limit.

She suggests the Scottish government should investigate this matter.

Image source, Google

SNP MSP Emma Harper is leading a debate on the planned Maybole bypass.

It is hoped the move will improve safety and journey times in the region, as weill as boost the rural and local economy.

Image source, Scottish parliament

The Tory amendment on the Universal Credit debate is defeated (27 for and 85 against).

The Labour, Green and Lib Dem amendments are all agreed after a division.

The final amended motion is agreed too, with 85 votes for and 27 against.

Prior to decision time Public Petitions Committee convener Johaan Lamont annouced an inquiry into mental health support for young people in Scotland.

Brian Taylor
BBC Scotland Political Editor

Finance secretary Derek Mackay has tonight voiced hope that a deal can be done to secure jobs at the Michelin plant in Dundee - which has been scheduled for closure in 2020.

Mr Mackay told MSPs he would bring forward a plan to prevent closure after talks in Dundee.

However, the Minister conceded that the factory faced "significant challenges" in the market.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard asks about using public procurement to support jobs and industry in Dundee.

Mr Mackay confirms he is looking at the whole procurement approach but adds that this is not an answer in isolation.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Liam Kerr asks for the Scottish government to publish all the details of funding Michelin has received from Scottish Enterprise or other government agencies.

Mr Mackay says there are claw back conditions around Scottish Enterprise grants.

"The objective here is not to scrape back a few million pounds from government grants, it's to save 850 jobs, that is our priority, that is our mission."

"'The mission has to be save the plant, save the jobs."

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles asks about expressions of interest from the private sector in the Michelin plant.

He also wonders about training from Skills Development Scotland for employees.

The finance secretary reiterates that efforts now will focus on saving the plant.

However, he confirms the Scottish government will be standing ready to support staff on the next stage if that is required.

Image source, bbc

Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie says this parliament should be united both in its concerns about the workers affected and in its support for the action group.

If additional funds are found for the Tay Cities Deal, what are the extra measures to make sure that economic measures are sustainable he asks.

Mr Mackay insists there has been work with Scottish Enterprise to make the Michelin site the first one that was carbon neutral.

The cabinet secretary insists the government will be proactive in trying to keep the plant open.

Tory MSP Bill Bowman echoes concerns raised about the workforce, their families and the wider communities.

He urges the cabinet secretary to make the appropriate resources available to government agencies should redundancies occur and queries whether it was the group management's decision to close the plant.

Mr Mackay says he will make resources available but the primary focus now is retention of the factory.

It will take a monumental effort to get the outcome we want, but make the effort we will, the finance secretary states.

He expects to meet decision makers in coming weeks who will have the authority to reverse it.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Shona Robison asks if the minister agrees that the focus must be on action with Michelin.

Ms Robison also queries what Mr Mackay hopes to get from the action group to put to the company.

The cabinet secretary agrees and insists the staff of Michelin are absolutely up to the challenge.

Greg Clark, the UK business minister, has offered the support of his junior officials, he explains.

Michelin will meet him in the next few weeks, he says.

"It is really significant that they will hear our proposition."

Ms Marra calls for an independently chaired taskforce for industry in Dundee, given the news today about Michelin, the delay for decommissioning and employment stats.

Mr Mackay says the unions have asked for a separate taskforce not to be set up.

I think there are opportunities to look at the wider industrial strategy for Dundee, but the current focus needs to be on Michelin he says.

Image source, bbc

Mr Mackay welcomes the offer of support from Ms Marra and he stresses a cross-party approach will be welcome in Dundee.

The finance secretary says we are offering immediate support to the Michelin management.

I agree it was an appalling way for the staff to hear this news, says Mr Mackay.

The minister stresses no leak came from the Scottish government or Michelin management.

He calls on the UK government to allocate additional resources to the Tay cities deal.

Mr Mackay tells the chamber the UK government has pledged to work with the Scottish government.

Ms Marra thanks the cabinet secretary for all the work he has done on this issue.

She says employees face "grave uncertainty" despite the success of the plant being entirely due to their loyalty.

The Labour MSP suggests the closure news has been mismanaged.

She suggests the Tay cities deal will now "not touch the sides" and asks if more money could be made available.

She calls for the city deal to be signed before the end of the month.

Image source, bbc

Mr Mackay says he met with John Reid, the managing director of the plant, last week and sought engagement with senior Michelin management.

The company's group executive has agreed to look at a proposal to keep the plant open, formed by a new action group which he will chair, says Mr Mackay.

We are, as a government, committed to do everything in our power to stop this closure, says the cabinet secretary.

Douglas Fraser
Scotland business & economy editor

Image source, Reuters/BBC

If you've needed new tyres recently, you probably found that they had to be ordered and trucked from a distant warehouse.

It used to be that you could go into a garage, you might get a choice of three manufacturers, and there and then, the mechanics could haul any of the three off a storage rail.

What used to take 20 minutes now takes days, and often a lot more money.

The change is partly down to the business practice of limiting stock to reduce costs, and having car parts delivered to order. But it has more to do with the growth in the range of tyres.

Read more from Douglas