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Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.
The Convener Lab Committee
02 Apr 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment (Witness Expenses)
Agenda item 3 is an item on witness expenses. In keeping with the usual practice, members are invited to delegate to me as convener responsibility for arranging for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to pay, under rule 12.4.3 of the standing orders, any expenses incurre...
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
We have one agenda item today: an evidence session on removing barriers as part of our inquiry on race, ethnicity and employment. I invite the witnesses to introduce themselves and to outline the work of their organisations and any current projects.
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Agenda item 2 is our second evidence-taking session in our inquiry into removing barriers: race, ethnicity and employment. I welcome our panel of witnesses and ask them to introduce themselves.
The Convener Lab Committee
17 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Thank you. Today we have one agenda item, which is an evidence session in our inquiry into removing barriers: race, ethnicity and employment. When witnesses or members wish to speak, they should indicate to either me or the clerk. I welcome the panel and ask our witnesses to ...
The Convener Lab Committee
01 Oct 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Agenda item 2 is an evidence-taking session in our inquiry into removing barriers: race, ethnicity and employment. If witnesses or members wish to speak during the discussion, they should indicate that wish to me or the clerk beside me. Our time is restricted today, so I ask t...
The Convener Lab Committee
12 Nov 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Agenda item 2 is an evidence session in our inquiry into race, ethnicity and employment. I ask witnesses and members to indicate to me or to the clerk, who is on my left, when they want to speak. I welcome the panel and ask the witnesses to introduce themselves, please.
The Convener Lab Committee
19 Nov 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Agenda item 2 is an evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights on our inquiry into removing barriers: race, ethnicity and employment. I welcome the cabinet secretary and his accompanying officials, Gavin Gray and Lesley M...
The Convener Lab Committee
19 Nov 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Thank you, cabinet secretary. We are working to quite a tight timescale this morning. We have conducted a really interesting inquiry on removing barriers, and we have taken quite a lot of evidence from various organisations including local authorities, trade unions, human res...
Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
15 Sep 2011
Scotland Bill (Corporation Tax)
I listened carefully to the arguments that were presented and, as interesting as they were, I am ultimately unconvinced of the case that the Scottish Government is making. I have come to that conclusion after spending much of the summer recess speaking to businesses, talking t...
Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
05 Feb 2014
Female Genital Mutilation
I welcome today’s debate on the international day of zero tolerance for female genital mutilation—an important day that will be recognised tomorrow. I am grateful to Jenny Marra for securing the debate, in which we can take a stand against this brutal and wholly unacceptable t...
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Sep 2014
Equality and Human Rights Commission
I want to go back to a question that might seem very basic. I assume that, if a local authority was not collecting the data and information that you require in relation to disabilities and race, you would go in and work with it. Would that local authority have timescales withi...
The Convener Lab Committee
19 Feb 2015
Decision on Taking Business in Private
The first agenda item is a decision on taking business in private. Members are asked to agree to take in private item 3, which is consideration of the evidence heard during today’s meeting, and item 4, which is discussion of our approach to an inquiry on race. Are we agreed? ...
The Convener Lab Committee
02 Apr 2015
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Thank you very much. Agenda item 1 is a decision on taking business in private. Do members agree to take in private item 4, which is consideration of our approach to the race, ethnicity and employment inquiry? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener Lab Committee
02 Apr 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment (Witness Expenses)
That concludes the public part of today’s meeting. Our next meeting will take place on 23 April, when we will take evidence from health and social work services on our inquiry into age and social isolation. I thank each of the nine witnesses who came to the committee today. ...
The Convener (Margaret McCulloch) Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
I welcome everyone to the 13th meeting in 2015 of the Equal Opportunities Committee. Please switch off any electronic devices or put them into flight mode. I will start with introductions. We are supported at the table by the clerking and research staff, official reporters an...
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
If witnesses want to answer a question, they should indicate to me or to the clerk who is sitting to my left that they want to speak. We will take it in turns.
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
I remind witnesses to keep their answers concise, as we have quite a few people who want to come in.
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
How can we get up-to-date data when it is down to the individual to identify their background when they complete their application? It is up to an individual to say whether they are white, Asian, disabled or whatever. How can we have 100 per cent accurate information if giving...
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Two committee members would like to come in briefly on the back of that. We then need to move on to the next question.
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Thank you. The next question is from Jayne Baxter.
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
We will come to positive action later.
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Thank you. Do you want to say anything else?
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
On employment support and advice, I note that according to Scottish Government statistics—the pupil census—the Chinese group achieved the highest qualifications. Is anyone speaking to groups at the point at which they leave the education system or monitoring their destinations...
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
What needs to be done in schools to better inform pupils about the various options?
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Around 98 per cent of businesses are small or medium-sized enterprises. We know that the public sector is active with regard to recruiting people from ethnic minority backgrounds. Employers in SMEs need more information about how to access groups of ethnic minorities in order ...
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
On you go.
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
I call John Mason. I am sorry—Annabel Goldie wants to come back in. I thought that you had finished.
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Do you want to comment on that, Akwugo?
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Chris? Laughter. Or is that a rhetorical question?
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Would you prefer not to comment, Chris? Laughter.
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Chris Oswald has mentioned procurement a few times and said earlier that colleges and training providers could consider using the procurement process to ensure that a target percentage of modern apprentices come from ethnic minority backgrounds. John Mason mentioned in passing...
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
I have first to declare an interest because I used to work in that field, and secondly to say that for a person to become a modern apprentice, they must be employed.
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
That comes back to Skills Development Scotland, which determines what occupation areas it will fund. I believe that it funds manufacturing processes and care, so encouraging modern apprenticeships in those areas would be achievable. What other areas could the Government look a...
The Convener Lab Committee
25 Jun 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Members have no more questions for the witnesses. We have a bit of time left if any of the witnesses want to give us other information that they feel is important but which has not come out during the evidence session. Does anybody want to say anything? No. If you realise aft...
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Thank you. We will go straight to questions. I believe that Annabel Goldie will go first.
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
If anybody else wants to speak, they should indicate that to me or the clerk and we will take them in turn.
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
That would be excellent.
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Do you know the answer?
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
If you could send us it in writing, that would be excellent—thank you.
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
If you do not know the answer, that is fine. You can find out the information and send it to us.
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
We are working to a really tight timescale, so I ask you to keep your answers short and to the point, if you do not mind. A number of members want to ask questions. I smoothly pass you on to John Mason.
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Eilidh Prentice is desperate to get in.
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Is that a question or a statement, Drew?
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Does anybody want to respond to that? If not, we will leave it as it is.
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Yes.
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
I will time you, Annabel.
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Some of my questions have been covered by other members. You say that you monitor recruitment. What information do you keep on people being promoted, and what do you use it for? Do you keep information on the exit rates of BME groups? Can you expand on what you do to monitor r...
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Excellent—thank you.
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Who would like to answer that? Come on, Eilidh. We will pick on you this time.
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Does anyone else want to answer that question, or are people quite comfortable with that response?
The Convener Lab Committee
03 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
As members have no other questions, do our witnesses have anything else that they would like to say but which they have not yet had the opportunity to say? If not, I suggest that, if you think of anything, you should send us that information—we will be glad to hear from you. ...
The Convener (Margaret McCulloch) Lab Committee
17 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Good morning everybody and welcome to the 15th meeting in 2015 of the Equal Opportunities Committee. Please set any electronic devices to flight mode or switch them off. I will start with introductions. We are supported at the table by the clerk and research staff, official r...
The Convener Lab Committee
17 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Thank you very much. You do not have to press the button, as the microphone will come on automatically when you start to speak. Katie Hutton mentioned BEMIS and the projects that SDS is doing. Can you expand a bit more on the role of the two allocated individuals within BEMIS...
The Convener Lab Committee
17 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
What kind of feedback do the two individuals get when they speak to the groups about the reasons why they do not participate in the modern apprenticeship programme?
The Convener Lab Committee
17 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
My other question is on employers that are recruiting apprentices. What are you doing to encourage employers to open up their recruitment process to more ethnic groups?
The Convener Lab Committee
17 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Do you send out surveys when every modern apprentice completes or leaves a programme?
The Convener Lab Committee
17 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
I will ask you to expand a wee bit, given the younger age profile from the ethnic minority population in Scotland. What other reasons prevent young people from participating in the modern apprenticeship programme? You said that one reason could be lack of knowledge about the m...
The Convener Lab Committee
17 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
Can you do anything to try to capture information on the individuals who do not want to tick the box to say that they come from a BME background? A high percentage of people doing modern apprentices might not be identifying themselves.
The Convener Lab Committee
17 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
To clarify, we are looking for data on modern apprenticeship starts, leavers, the ethnic group those people come from, whether they have achieved a modern apprenticeship and, probably, the drop-out rate.
The Convener Lab Committee
17 Sep 2015
Race, Ethnicity and Employment
We also want to know whether the people are still in the job when they complete their modern apprenticeship qualification.
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Committee

Equal Opportunities Committee 02 April 2015

02 Apr 2015 · S4 · Equal Opportunities Committee
Item of business
Race, Ethnicity and Employment (Witness Expenses)
McCulloch, Margaret Lab Central Scotland Watch on SPTV
Agenda item 3 is an item on witness expenses. In keeping with the usual practice, members are invited to delegate to me as convener responsibility for arranging for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to pay, under rule 12.4.3 of the standing orders, any expenses incurred by witnesses as part of our inquiry into race, ethnicity and employment. Do members agree? Members indicated agreement.

In the same item of business

The Convener Lab
Agenda item 3 is an item on witness expenses. In keeping with the usual practice, members are invited to delegate to me as convener responsibility for arrang...
The Convener Lab
That concludes the public part of today’s meeting. Our next meeting will take place on 23 April, when we will take evidence from health and social work servi...