Skip to main content

Language: English / Gàidhlig

Loading…

Seòmar agus comataidhean

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

Criathragan Hide all filters

Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 10 December 2024
Select which types of business to include


Select level of detail in results

Displaying 1694 contributions

|

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Programme for Government (Priorities)

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

I want to move on to a different subject, as other members will come back to NSET.

As part of our pre-budget scrutiny, we took evidence from VisitScotland, which, as you will know, has received an in-year adjustment of its budget. It told us that, as a result, planned digital campaigns cannot go ahead this year, and it explained that, with the impact happening in-year, the timescales for its businesses mean that it is anticipating that there will be a direct impact on our tourism sector this year as a result of its scaling back some of its digital work.

You will be familiar with the package of support measures that the tourism sector believes that it needs. Some are reserved—it has mentioned VAT—but others are devolved. I am thinking of business rates, and some concerns have been expressed about divergence in income tax policies. What priority does tourism have within NSET? As a comparison, the investment that Ireland makes puts us in the shade; it is not on the same scale. How do we ensure that tourism is prioritised?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Programme for Government (Priorities)

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

Before we move to questions from Colin Smyth, I want to go back to NSET. Mark Logan, the chief entrepreneurial adviser to the Scottish Government, was initially serving a two-year term, which expired in September. What evaluation has been made of that role, is Mark Logan still in post, and what is the status of that post?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Programme for Government (Priorities)

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

I would like to make some progress. I call Gordon MacDonald.

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Programme for Government (Priorities)

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

I have some final questions about Ana Stewart’s review, which was published just over a year ago. Although recent figures for the number of women starting businesses have been quite positive, showing that women start businesses at pretty much the same rate as men, we know that that is only part of the story. Women-owned businesses do not have the same longevity or lifespan as male-owned businesses and face difficulties in accessing finance, which is not such a barrier for male-owned businesses.

Can you say more about how you intend to implement Ana Stewart’s review and provide support? Where will that go next?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Programme for Government (Priorities)

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

I thank the cabinet secretary for joining us. That brings us to the end of our evidence session, and the committee will now move into private session.

11:35 Meeting continued in private until 12:11.  

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

Good morning, and welcome to the 26th meeting in 2024 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. Our first item of business is a decision on whether to take items 5 and 6 in private. Do members agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

I thank the minister and his officials for joining us today, and I briefly suspend the meeting to allow for a changeover of witnesses.

09:36 Meeting suspended.  

09:47 On resuming—  

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Programme for Government (Priorities)

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

I have a question about business rates reform and income tax, which might be more for the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government. On the latter issue, we have previously asked about work on whether divergence is having any positive or negative impact. Is the Scottish Government doing work to track the impact of divergence on income tax policy, and will we see progress on business rates reform?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Programme for Government (Priorities)

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

We will make some progress and turn to questions from Willie Coffey.

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Programme for Government (Priorities)

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

Brian Whittle has a brief supplementary.