Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 18 March 2026 [Draft]
18 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Real Living Wage
Nobody on the Conservative benches opposes fair pay for workers, but the minister must recognise that the gap between the number of accredited employers and the number of workers who actually receive the real living wage tells us a story. Businesses in Scotland are closing, relocating or simply not starting up because the Government has created a hostile environment for enterprise. Continually making feel-good announcements makes no difference. What action will the Scottish Government take to protect those businesses that are disappearing daily across our communities?
In the same item of business
7. Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason, despite an increase in the number of businesses pledging to pay the real living wage, the percentage of peopl...
The Minister for Business and Employment (Richard Lochhead)
SNP
While key powers over employment law remain reserved to the United Kingdom Government, including those on the minimum wage, we have made significant progress...
Alexander Stewart
Con
Nobody on the Conservative benches opposes fair pay for workers, but the minister must recognise that the gap between the number of accredited employers and ...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
As discussed in previous answers, businesses in Scotland face a number of pressures, not least rising national insurance contributions and rising energy cost...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Question 8 was not lodged.That concludes portfolio questions on Deputy First Minister responsibilities, economy and Gaelic.