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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

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

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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 12 November 2024
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Displaying 1694 contributions

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Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Programme for Government (Priorities)

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

Our next item of business is an evidence session with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, Kate Forbes. She is accompanied by, from the Scottish Government, Aidan Grisewood, director of jobs and wellbeing economy; Keith McDonald, unit head, strategy division; and Richard Rollison, director for international trade and investment. Thank you for attending this morning’s meeting.

I will start with an initial question about the national strategy for economic transformation, which a number of members have questions about. There has been confusion about the plans for NSET, which could be down to a change of cabinet secretary. Your predecessor said that a refresh of the strategy would be undertaken. You recently wrote to me to explain the position. I have also received a letter from Richard Leonard, convener of the Public Audit Committee, and I think that other members will want to pursue some of the issues that he raised. The Public Audit Committee has asked us to seek clarity on the issue of a refresh.

In the letter that you sent to me, you said that it was not the intention to have a reset or a refresh. Will you explain to us what the intention is?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Programme for Government (Priorities)

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

That might be helpful. It would be interesting to know in what capacity Mark Logan is working with Neil Gray. Is that as a special adviser? Is it a paid post? Was he recruited to the post? What kind of post is it? Can you clarify that?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Programme for Government (Priorities)

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

At the start of this session of Parliament, there was a commitment to £50 million for a women’s business centre. That policy changed towards the idea of having pop-up centres and you outlined a fund of just under £2 million. Is there no longer a commitment to a figure of £50 million to support women in business?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Programme for Government (Priorities)

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

What kind of appointment is it? Do you know?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Programme for Government (Priorities)

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

We will now move on to questions from Colin Smyth.

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

Item 2 is an evidence session on a Scottish statutory instrument. I welcome Ivan McKee, the Minister for Public Finance, who is joined by Ross Grimley, a solicitor, and Iain Moore, the head of procurement policy, from the Scottish Government. I invite the minister to make a short opening statement.

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Programme for Government (Priorities)

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

Excuse me—can we have some order in the committee, please? Only one person should speak at a time. Carry on, Mr Fraser.

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

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 [Draft]

Programme for Government (Priorities)

Meeting date: 9 October 2024

Claire Baker

Some members wish to ask a couple of supplementaries, if the cabinet secretary has time.

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

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?