Committee
Finance Committee, 26 Oct 2004
26 Oct 2004 · S2 · Finance Committee
Item of business
Budget Process 2005-06
Irene Graham:
Watch on SPTV
The women's budget group, which we sometimes refer to as the Westminster budget group, has been established much longer than the Scottish women's budget group. Traditionally, it has taken a different focus from the one that we take in Scotland. The women's budget group tends to focus on fiscal policy—it works very closely with the Treasury. The women's budget group is very interested in the Chancellor's budget announcement. Perhaps one of its most famous campaigns was the from the purse to the wallet campaign when the Chancellor proposed to change the way in which some benefits, including the family support benefit that traditionally had gone to women, were paid. He proposed to put them into the man's wage packet. The women's budget group mounted a big campaign to highlight the fact that if the Chancellor did that, he would impoverish a range of women.We have tended not to take the same approach as that taken by the women's budget group, which tends to look at the impact of fiscal policy on women across the country. However, it has begun to show interest in what we are doing in Scotland with the budget process. As we know, Scotland has not used its tax-raising—or lowering—powers. If the Executive were to exercise those powers, the Scottish women's budget group would focus on that as well.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
Lab
The next item on the agenda is our first evidence-taking session on the draft budget. We have with us today representatives from the Scottish women's budget ...
Irene Graham (Scottish Women’s Budget Group):
I thank the committee for inviting us. How long do I have to make my brief introduction?
The Convener:
Lab
We normally say not too much more than five minutes.
Irene Graham:
Okay. What I have to say will take about five minutes. The Scottish women's budget group would like to thank the committee for giving us the opportunity to s...
The Convener:
Lab
Thank you. I think that Kate Maclean has the first question.
Kate Maclean:
Lab
You mentioned the operation of the modern apprenticeship scheme. Could you expand on how you think that it could be operated in a better way in terms of gend...
Irene Graham:
If we do not have a target and do not try to do something about the situation, nothing will happen, because things will continue as they are. If we want to c...
Kate Maclean:
Lab
I absolutely agree that a gender-neutral approach to such issues is not really helpful in promoting gender balance. What do you mean when you say that modern...
Irene Graham:
If you look at where the apprenticeships are, you will see that they tend to be in construction and the traditional skilled craft areas. Traditionally, those...
Mr Brocklebank:
Con
Although all of us tend to pay lip service to the need to iron out the problems of gender inequalities, the evidence can show that not much is being done in ...
Irene Graham:
The Scottish figure is pretty much in line with the UK figure. I do not have the European figures with me at the moment. The Scottish figure varies by 1 or 2...
Mr Brocklebank:
Con
Have you any indication of trends in Europe? Kate Maclean spoke about modern apprenticeships. Do you have any indication that more interest is taken in Europ...
Irene Graham:
To be honest, I could not give an authoritative answer to the question. If the committee is interested in the area, I could ensure that we get the figures fo...
Mr Brocklebank:
Con
It would be useful to get them.
Irene Graham:
Okay. We guarantee to get them.
John Swinburne:
SSCUP
Is your group an offshoot of the United Kingdom group or is it a stand-alone group?
Irene Graham:
The women's budget group, which we sometimes refer to as the Westminster budget group, has been established much longer than the Scottish women's budget grou...
John Swinburne:
SSCUP
Although I acknowledge the fact that pensions are not a devolved issue, I was very disappointed that your submission contained only a one-liner about single ...
The Convener:
Lab
We need a question.
John Swinburne:
SSCUP
I will come to the question.
The Convener:
Lab
Quickly please.
John Swinburne:
SSCUP
My question is when will the witnesses get their colleagues south of the border to do something about the nationwide pension issue? The submission also says:...
Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD):
LD
I think that that is a question for me.
Irene Graham:
I welcome Mr Swinburne's commitment to the cause of pensions and, in particular, the cause of women's poverty in old age as a result of their pension status....
Dr Murray:
Lab
I return to the points that you made about the modern apprenticeship scheme, which were well made. It could be argued that a reverse gender analysis could be...
The Convener:
Lab
Alasdair Morgan has a supplementary question.
Alasdair Morgan:
SNP
Elaine Murray has asked the question that came to me as a result of reading the witnesses' submission. What changes would need to be made to the draft budget...
Kay Simpson (Scottish Women's Budget Group):
One of the things that the Scottish women's budget group has been requesting for a long time—indeed, we asked for it four years ago when the Scottish Parliam...
Dr Murray:
Lab
Are you suggesting that such an approach should be taken in particular pilot areas? I suppose that one of the problems might be that if that approach were ad...
Kay Simpson:
Until we get the process under way, that information will have to be given under each portfolio in the budget document. The equality proofing budget policy a...