Committee
Enterprise and Culture Committee, 13 Feb 2007
13 Feb 2007 · S2 · Enterprise and Culture Committee
Item of business
Transport and General Workers Union (Meeting)
To build on what has already been said, I suggest that it is worth commissioning work on the issue, or at least setting the ball rolling, via the Scottish Parliament information centre. I am always careful not to commission research papers casually, because I know that a lot of time, effort and resource go into them. The issue will continue to be relevant in the future, however, and it is bound to be considered further in some shape or form during the next session. I think that it is worth getting some of the work done. I do not know whether some research is being done already. Perhaps part of the response would be for researchers to capture some information on the matter.I would strongly favour the idea of any meeting being open not just to Enterprise and Culture Committee members, but to MSPs in general. There is nothing to stop any organisation with an MSP sponsor holding a meeting here in the Parliament. We are invited to and go along to such meetings all the time. I think that that would be a better way to proceed, for a number of reasons. This will affect some of us less than others, but, for the sake of our successor committee, we must be cautious about setting any precedents. That is particularly the case when it comes to enterprise, I think. There are any number of industries and companies across the country facing various difficult and complex issues. Many of them throw up legitimate policy issues for the committee to consider, but it is always worth pausing for thought about how a parliamentary committee such as this one can best consider such issues. Simply responding to a request from an organisation—be it an employer, a union, a campaign group or whatever—is not, in my experience, the best way of doing things. I return to the point about precedent. We should be sensitive to that, too.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
SNP
We move on to agenda item 2. I put this item on the agenda because of the general issues that have been raised in correspondence. However, I do not think tha...
Christine May:
Lab
For clarity, I should say that I am a member of the Transport and General Workers Union. I would never refuse to meet a trade union. Nothing would be lost by...
Susan Deacon:
Lab
I should also confess my membership of the TGWU—although "confess" might not be the right word.I have no difficulty with colleagues meeting the union. Howeve...
The Convener:
SNP
We are at the tail end of this session of Parliament and there will be only one full meeting of the committee after this one, so there is no time for the com...
Christine May:
Lab
I would also like to explore with the union—in the context of its role in the global trade union movement—the tension between environment and economy. The ca...
Mark Ballard:
Green
The classic tension between environment and economy is illustrated by a situation in which jobs and the environment are one side of the equation and commerci...
The Convener:
SNP
I will come back to that.
Mr Maxwell:
SNP
The issue is becoming less clear as we go on. I have no problem with the convener and deputy convener meeting people on behalf of the committee, if the commi...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I should say, for the avoidance of doubt, that I am not a member of the Transport and General Workers Union. I agree with Stewart Maxwell, who makes a fair p...
The Convener:
SNP
I will not go to the barricades over the status of the meeting, and I do not think that Christine May will either. I would be happy if the committee preferre...
Mr Stone:
LD
It might come as a surprise to some members, but I should perhaps remind the committee that I was, once upon a time, a member of the T&G. It is typical of us...
The Convener:
SNP
You are not in Equity now, are you?
Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab):
Lab
They have standards at Equity, convener.
Mr Stone:
LD
I disagree with Stewart Maxwell and Murdo Fraser. The trade union branch took it upon itself to get in touch with us. It is an enterprise matter, because job...
Susan Deacon:
Lab
To build on what has already been said, I suggest that it is worth commissioning work on the issue, or at least setting the ball rolling, via the Scottish Pa...
The Convener:
SNP
I think that the idea of asking SPICe to prepare some research, which would be available to our successor committee, is sensible. Members indicated agreement.
The Convener:
SNP
I take it from members' nodding that we agree to ask SPICe to do that. That will keep them busy while the rest of us are campaigning. I should point out to S...