Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 22 May 2019
22 May 2019 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Business Support Inquiry
I am pleased to hear the minister put his commitment on record.
In fairness, the committee heard some great evidence on proactive outreach to underrepresented groups, for example on Glasgow’s tailored programmes for women, work with social enterprises and support for employers to recruit and retain people with disabilities.
I would like to press the Government further in particular on the recommendation to create a national head of women in business to co-ordinate national policy and work towards the establishment of a national women’s centre for business. The cabinet secretary’s response was that the Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills was committed to developing
“the concept of a ‘women’s business centre’”.
That was somewhat lacking in specific detail on the if, when and how—to be frank, I found it a bit limp. I would be grateful if, in his closing remarks, the minister could be a bit more rock and roll and fill in some of the blanks. Alternatively, he could just say, “Aye, we’re doing it,” and make a very clear commitment to creating a post of national head of women in business and establishing a national women’s centre for business.
14:14In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh)
NPA
Good afternoon. Our first item of business is an Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee debate on motion S5M-17360, in the name of Gordon Lindhurst, on the ...
Gordon Lindhurst (Lothian) (Con)
Con
Words, concepts, arguments—are those not the tools of our trade, Presiding Officer? We speak, therefore we are. It was P G Wodehouse who said: “One of the ...
The Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills (Jamie Hepburn)
SNP
I thank the convener, the committee and all those who took part in the inquiry by sharing their views. Their contributions shaped an insightful and highly re...
Dean Lockhart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I add my thanks to the clerks and others for their hard work in preparing a valuable report, and I acknowledge the hard work of everyone who is involved in t...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the committee’s report on business gateway. If we are to grow our own economy, we need to grow our own businesses. Because home-grown businesses a...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I very much concur with the member’s point about employee-owned businesses. Does she therefore welcome the creation of the industry leadership group, which I...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I do indeed welcome that, but it must be accessible to people who might set up such a business. One way of doing that is to ensure that business gateway can ...
Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green)
Green
As other members of the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee have done, I thank the clerks and the Scottish Parliament information centre for all their as...
Angela Constance (Almond Valley) (SNP)
SNP
A good place to start is the cabinet secretary’s response to the committee’s report. Derek Mackay said: “the answer as to how we best support our business b...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Angela Constance
SNP
Yes, briefly.
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Again, I make the point that I cannot speak for COSLA, but I want to underline that through our race equality action plans and the commitment that we made th...
Angela Constance
SNP
I am pleased to hear the minister put his commitment on record. In fairness, the committee heard some great evidence on proactive outreach to underrepresent...
Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to take part in today’s Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee debate on support for the business community. As someone who served on Perth an...
Andy Wightman
Green
Alexander Stewart just said that he felt that a lack of scrutiny took place in Perth and Kinross Council during his time there. Is that an admission of his o...
Alexander Stewart
Con
It is certainly not, by any stretch of the imagination. However, more transparency and accountability were certainly needed. During my final four years there...
Andy Wightman
Green
On a point of order, Presiding Officer, I am sure that Alexander Stewart did not mean any disrespect when he addressed you as the Deputy Presiding Officer.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
That is very helpful. I am sure that no slight was intended. 14:21
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer. As a member of the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee, I thank the clerks, SPICe and all the witnesses for their assistanc...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I will take an intervention in a second, when I will get the minister to answer a question for me. I believe that we need a national head of women in busine...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I am always rock and roll. I acknowledge the points that have been made. If time had allowed, I would have intervened when Angela Constance made the point ab...
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I will take that as a yes. Let me turn to the Scottish Government’s response, which is a veritable blancmange of warm words. For example, the Government sai...
Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP)
SNP
We should put examination of the performance of business gateway in the context of the growth in new enterprises. Since 2007, the number of registered busine...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
Does Gordon MacDonald feel that the Irish model offers enough local accountability and control?
Gordon MacDonald
SNP
If John Mason waits for about a minute, he will hear my answer to that. I do not accept COSLA’s response that "reporting at the local level is a matter for...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in the debate, and I thank the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee for its report. It was interesting to read...
Colin Beattie (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)
SNP
I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in the debate on the report. I thank the clerks and all concerned for producing it. The key area of scrutiny was ...
Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
In closing for Labour today, I commend the work of the Economy, Energy and Fair Work committee in producing its very thorough report into business support in...
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I place on record my thanks to the excellent clerking team who supported the committee’s work throughout the inquiry. Our convener, Gordon Lindhurst, eloquen...