The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 1194 contributions
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 31 January 2024
Neil Gray
Obviously, we take that into consideration whenever we take a decision on tax, and the Scottish Fiscal Commission assesses likely behavioural changes. We do everything that we can to make sure that there is a balance. Of course, there will be the potential for behavioural change, but I have not seen evidence of that. There is anecdotal evidence, but there is no direct evidence. Our decisions have allowed us to ensure that we have opportunities to invest in our public services. The premise of Mr Fraser’s first question was that a larger budget is available to the Scottish Government. The whole reason for that is down to the tax decisions that we have taken.
The discussions that I had last week with the hospitality industry pointed to much wider challenges with recruitment, including the direct impact of Brexit, with the loss of access to labour—people moving away from and people not coming to work in Scotland—and the stringent UK Government immigration system, which does not support the needs of the Scottish economy. I am willing to work with people in the industry. I gave a commitment to, in my representations to the UK Government ahead of its budget, provide evidence of how they are struggling to recruit internationally, and I will continue to work with them in that regard.
In relation to migration within the UK, for every year of the past 20 years, there has been net inward migration from the rest of the UK into Scotland. I am not complacent about that, but it points to the fact that Scotland is, indeed, a very attractive place to live, work and do business.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 31 January 2024
Neil Gray
I thank Kevin Stewart for that question, which comes from his having quite a bit of experience in this sector. He will be aware, having started this process, of the work that is being done in the Government to advance the rights of the neurodiverse and the advocacy that is available for people with neurodivergent conditions through the new champion who is coming through, as well as work in other areas. He makes a sensible suggestion and one that I am more than happy to consider.
I see from my constituency casework the challenges for families with children with neurodivergence. Also, as the children grow older, as Mr Stewart points out, they face challenges in getting access to the employment market, even though, in the majority of cases, they have a substantial amount to offer, if very minor adjustments to the workplace could be made. That is where ensuring not only that the best kept secret in Whitehall—the access to work scheme—is better promoted but that other elements of Scottish Government support are tailored to ensure that we are taking full advantage of the economic potential that better support and access to work for people with neurodivergence can have.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 31 January 2024
Neil Gray
In collaboration with officials and me, yes.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 31 January 2024
Neil Gray
I do not think that it would be fair to say that they are doing less. They are prioritising the funding that they have in areas that will maximise the economic opportunities before them. As Colin Cook has set out, their ability to invest the money that they have available to them will have to be balanced with the numbers in the workforce available to them and whether the numbers that they have at present are conducive to their spending against that. These are balances to be struck and decisions to be taken by the enterprise agencies. As Mr Cook has set out, we will continue to work with them to ensure that they are doing that as efficiently as possible while also recognising the NSET priorities.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 31 January 2024
Neil Gray
I think it entirely fair for an advisory board that will look at the bank’s performance to wait for the bank to be established before it can be functional. However, work is on-going to establish the advisory board that will provide additional assurance measures, beyond those that are already in place for a non-departmental public body and a public limited company, to ensure that we have confidence—which I do; I have no reason not to—in the bank’s decisions and performance.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 31 January 2024
Neil Gray
That process is on-going.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 31 January 2024
Neil Gray
Yes. You have rightly said that the area is a reserved competence, and the need for us to have an R100 programme at all is because there has been underinvestment by the UK Government, meaning that we will not see the digital roll-out happen as quickly as we need it to, particularly for our rural businesses. Therefore, we are making an increased commitment to meet the target and ensure that the economic growth opportunity that comes off the back of it is available to as many people as possible—not just businesses but the domestic households that will have access to it, as well.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 31 January 2024
Neil Gray
The national strategy for economic transformation is a 10-year strategy for us to transform our economy so that we can take advantage of the opportunities that we have available to us. I believe that you need a good economy and a good society; the two are mutually reliant. You cannot have a good economy without a good society, so investment in public services is absolutely essential.
We will do everything that we can do to ensure that the money that has been prioritised for business, such as £685 million-worth of business rates relief and the maintenance of the small business bonus scheme, which is taking an estimated 100,000 business properties out of paying rates altogether, is the most generous in the UK. Ninety-five per cent of businesses here pay less in non-domestic rates than those elsewhere in the UK. We are looking to ensure that the decisions that we have taken in the budget are balanced and that we continue to see economic activity and economic growth opportunities coming through, balanced against the need to ensure that we protect public services so that we have a healthy workforce that supports a growing economy.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 31 January 2024
Neil Gray
We are working closely with VisitScotland to ensure that we maximise what is an incredibly important aspect of our economy. The tourism sector contributes a substantial amount to our economy. International visitor numbers are up, as is international spending, and not just on the past year but on pre-Covid times. It is incredibly encouraging that people wish to visit Scotland and spend their money here, which is important for our economy.
We will work with VisitScotland on the implications of the budget and on what it is able to provide as a service to ensure that Scotland continues to be a destination of choice—not just internationally, but domestically.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 31 January 2024
Neil Gray
No, the £50 million—