Chamber and committees

Before I bring in Maggie Chapman, I want to ask about the economic inactivity figures that you quoted. In October, the inactivity rate was 21.6 per cent, which was a decrease of 0.1 percentage points on the period from December 2019 to February 2020, and a decrease of 0.2 percentage points over the quarter. You said that that very slight percentage decrease was equivalent to 20,000 people. Is that right?

That brings us to the end of the evidence session. I thank the minister and his officials for attending. I move the meeting into private session.

Do you mean that the way in which the support for businesses that has been announced, such as support with energy costs, has been designed does not benefit your members?

I am sorry, Mr Thomson, but who did you say had issued the survey?

Good morning, and welcome to the 23rd meeting in 2022 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. There are no apologies from members, but Fiona Hyslop and Michelle Thomson are attending remotely.

Under agenda item 1, I ask whether members are content to take items 3 and 4 in private.

Members indicated agreement.

The committee constantly hears about skills. We bring witnesses before us on a different issue and always end up coming back to the skills gap. You will know that the Scottish Government has appointed James Withers to lead an inquiry into skills. It has been a constant issue. I think that the inquiry is just starting but it sounds like the issue is pretty pressing. How soon do we need change in Scotland around that agenda?

I will give Paul Sheerin the last word on the matter.

The committee did an inquiry into supply chains, on which we will take evidence from the minister in the next couple of weeks. Earlier this year, we considered some of the issues that you have identified, but we recognise that the pressure is probably greater now than it was at the start of the year.

Have energy costs had a big impact on the textile industry group?

Thank you. Mr Thomson mentioned UK Government surveys. The Scottish Government is undertaking an emergency budget review and statement is due in Parliament quite soon. It brought together an expert panel. Has there been any consultation with the expert panel or the Scottish Government about what needs to be done to support businesses? Comments were made that the 2022-23 programme for government was quite light in terms of business support. It mentioned the small business bonus scheme, which we have had for a while, and it referred to having the lowest poundage, but it did not contain any new announcements. Has there been any consultation with the expert panel or the Scottish Government? I know that we are working to tight timescales, but has there been any discussion?

That was in April.