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The government has not reached a firm view as yet on the relationship between the National Economic Forum and the Small Business Consultative Group (SBCG). When the SBCG last met, in October 2007, the group agreed that the SBCG should continue until the National Economic Forum was established and had had sufficient time to bed in.

Given the views expressed at that meeting, the government plans to keep the future of the SBCG and, if the group is retained, its relationship with the forum, under review.

The information requested has been set out in a table placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44863).

It is impossible at this stage to provide a breakdown of the annual running costs of the National Economic Forum. Only one meeting has been held to date and ministers wish to reflect on the outcome of that meeting and consider the views of forum members themselves, before reaching a view on the future direction and structure of forum meetings.

The forum discussed the Government Economic Strategy. Members of the forum considered, in particular, the contribution that three of the Government''s Strategic Objectives “ achieving a Smarter; a Wealthier and Fairer, and a Greener Scotland “ could make towards achieving increased sustainable growth.

The government sees the Business in the Parliament as complementary to the National Economic Forum. The former is a partnership event, between the Scottish Government and the Parliament, which aims to facilitate engagement between Scotland''s businesses and politicians, both the government and the Parliament as a whole. The forum brings together senior figures and thought leaders in business, trade unions, government, the wider public sector, and the third sector, as an important aspect of the government''s strategy to achieve transformational change and higher sustainable economic growth throughout Scotland.

The government will therefore continue to support the Business in the Parliament event, as long as we remain convinced that it can usefully fulfil its aims.

The theme for the first meeting of the forum, determined by the government, was the Government Economic Strategy. Members of the forum considered, in particular, the contribution that three of the Government''s Strategic Objectives “ achieving a Smarter; a Wealthier and Fairer; and a Greener Scotland.

We are currently gathering and assessing feedback from members of the forum on both the structure of future meetings and the themes to be discussed and will take their views fully into account in determining the themes of future meetings.

The forum will not have fully fixed membership and will retain flexibility (in terms of both size and representation), according to the theme(s) to be considered at each meeting, around an emerging core membership.

No date has been set but we expect the second meeting of the forum to take place before the end of 2008.

The costs (excluding Scottish Government staff costs), including VAT, involved in setting up the National Economic Forum, incorporating the costs of holding the first meeting of the forum on the 6 February 2008, are as follows:

Description	Cost
Hire of venue (inc. cost of facilities and venue staff)	£1,055.10
Catering	£6,736.28
Audio Visual	£4,343.00
Backdrops and delegate folders	£2,626.18
Total	£14,760.56

 

Attendance at the National Economic Forum is by invitation of the Scottish Government only. However, ministers would be, of course, consider requests from any groups or individuals interested in participating.