Chamber and committees

I am sorry, but I have a final question that I suppose goes back to Lorna Slater’s question about the fair work agenda. Traditionally, tourism is seen as a sector that has more casual employment than other sectors, that is perhaps not as secure as others and which does not have salaries that are as good as the salaries in others, although somebody mentioned how competition has perhaps driven salaries up, to some extent. Housing has been mentioned, too. What are the barriers? The issue is not just investment in the tourism sector. How important is it for the Government to recognise the other barriers and what is holding tourism back?

As no other members have questions, we move to formal consideration of the motion to approve the draft regulations. I invite the minister to move the motion.

Motion moved,

That the Economy and Fair Work Committee recommends that the Tied Pubs (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 be approved.—[Tom Arthur.]

Motion agreed to.

Our next item of business is evidence taking on a draft Scottish statutory instrument. I welcome Tom Arthur, the Minister for Employment and Investment, who is joining us online. He is joined by Aileen Bearhop, the Scottish Government’s head of industry growth; Deborah Cook, the Government’s food and drink policy manager; and Mairead McCrossan, a solicitor with the Scottish Government. I invite the minister to make a short opening statement.

Thank you, minister.

Could you provide a bit more detail on the planned consultation over the summer? At the start of June, we had a discussion with you about how difficult it was to resolve some of the outstanding issues. What are the plans to get agreement over the summer on how we move forward?

That concludes our business. I thank the minister and his officials for attending.

Thank you.

I welcome Michelle Thomson, and I invite her to declare any relevant interests.

Thank you.

Our next item of business is to choose a deputy convener. Before doing so, I thank Colin Beattie, who has fulfilled that role since the start of this parliamentary session.

The Parliament has agreed that only members of the Scottish National Party are eligible for nomination as deputy convener of the committee, so I invite a nomination from among the SNP.

There were seven public engagement exercises between summer 2021 and August 2023. How can the committee be confident that more consultation will resolve the issues when there has been extensive consultation already?

Good morning, and welcome to the 20th meeting of the Economy and Fair Work Committee in 2024. Apologies have been received this morning from Willie Coffey. Bob Doris is attending as a substitute.

Our first item is a declaration of interests by two new committee members. Before we hear those, I thank Colin Beattie, Maggie Chapman and Evelyn Tweed for their contributions to the work of the committee.

I welcome Lorna Slater, and I invite her to declare any relevant interests.