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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 15 July 2025
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Displaying 1696 contributions

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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

Fair Work Convention

Meeting date: 2 October 2024

Claire Baker

Thank you. Before I bring in Willie Coffey, I note that the witnesses will know that the committee is working on its pre-budget letter to the Scottish Government. We have in recent years seen cuts to the employability budget. We are in difficult financial times, but would you like the Government to consider reversing some of the cuts that have been made there? You talk about active labour market policies, in which employability support seems to be a key feature. If we are to make changes to labour market policies, employability support will be a big part of that.

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Fair Work Convention

Meeting date: 2 October 2024

Claire Baker

You mentioned the public sector when Gordon MacDonald asked about permanent employment rates. In Scotland, quite a high percentage of the labour market is employed in the public sector. I do not know whether it is the same in comparator countries. Does having quite a high percentage of people working in the public sector influence—for good or not so good—the indicators?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Fair Work Convention

Meeting date: 2 October 2024

Claire Baker

Our next item is an evidence session with members of the Fair Work Convention. Last year, the convention published a research report that benchmarked Scotland’s progress, based on a series of fair work indicators, against that of similar countries. The purpose of this session is to provide the committee with an opportunity to discuss the report and its implications.

First, I will make a declaration of interests. I am a member of Unite, the union.

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Fair Work Convention

Meeting date: 2 October 2024

Claire Baker

I will close with a couple of questions. We have some 18 months left of this session of Parliament. Are there areas that you think the committee should focus on in that time? Are there areas in your own work that we can work together on or that we can anticipate you publishing more reports on?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Fair Work Convention

Meeting date: 2 October 2024

Claire Baker

Brian Whittle has a supplementary question, and then I will bring in Kevin Stewart. I thank Kevin for his patience.

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Fair Work Convention

Meeting date: 2 October 2024

Claire Baker

That brings us to the end of the public part of today’s meeting. Thank you both for giving evidence this morning. We now move into private session.

11:19 Meeting continued in private until 11:34.