Chamber and committees

Good morning and welcome to the 21st meeting of the Economy and Fair Work Committee in 2022. Our first item of business this morning is a declaration of interests from Graham Simpson MSP, who joins the committee today, replacing Alexander Burnett. I place on record my thanks to Alexander Burnett for his work on the committee and wish him well in his new role. I am pleased to welcome Graham Simpson, who I know was a member of the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee in the previous session. I invite him to declare any relevant interests.

Thank you.

Thank you.

As there are no other questions, I invite the minister to speak to and move motion S6M-05257.

Motion moved,

That the Economy and Fair Work Committee recommends that the Consumer Scotland (Transfer of Functions) Regulations 2022 be approved.—[Tom Arthur]

Motion agreed to.

The women in enterprise framework and action plan came in in 2014 and was refreshed in 2017. At the moment, we are waiting on the Ana Stewart review into women in enterprise. You are saying that we know what needs to be done, but we are waiting on another review. Has Ana Stewart engaged with Women’s Enterprise Scotland? I think that the review is due quite soon. What do you want to see in that review that you think will make a difference? Do you think that it will be a key document for the Government’s approach to and understanding of the issue?

I have a question for Ruth Boyle. The committee has asked previous witnesses, including large organisations and businesses, whether they do gender disaggregation. That is another part of the picture. Do you find that that is happening to the extent that you want it to happen? How have organisations and businesses engaged with that agenda? Do you have a view on that?

Thank you. I will just cast a brief question at the end. I read the members’ business debate that my colleague Michelle Thomson held—I think it was in May. The minister who replied talked about a project involving Investing Women Angels Ltd working with the Scottish National Investment Bank. The Scottish National Investment Bank comes under the remit of this committee in respect of investment. Do you have any knowledge of how that project is progressing?

Our next item of business is a decision on whether to take items 6 and 7 in private. Are people content that we do that?

Members indicated agreement.

We move to an evidence session on the draft Consumer Scotland (Transfer of Functions) Regulations 2022. I refer members to paper 1 and I welcome to the meeting Tom Arthur, the Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth, who is joined from the Scottish Government by Neil Ritchie, head of unit, energy services and consumer policy, and Susan Robb, solicitor. I invite the minister to make a short opening statement.

I will move on to Colin Beattie, but I will bring you back in at the end if there is time.

Carolyn, will you clarify a point that arose from Graham Simpson’s questions? The Government mentioned £50 million over five years. Is that exclusively for the women’s business centre?

Okay. That is helpful, thank you. I thank both witnesses for giving of their expertise and insights this morning. It is much appreciated.