Chamber and committees

Thank you. We have to make some progress. Alexander Burnett is next, to be followed by Fiona Hyslop.

It would be helpful if Mr Gilliespie’s answer could be brief.

When will this year’s business plan be published? Can we expect it to be significantly different from the current business plan or will it be much the same?

Good morning, and welcome to the eighth meeting in 2022 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. Our first item of business is a decision on taking agenda items 3 and 4 in private. Are members content to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you, cabinet secretary. You mentioned a number of areas that committee members will wish to explore, not least the changed context in which the document has been published. Although we recognise that this is a high-level document, it is not clear what is different in this economic strategy to previous ones. We know there are significant issues with Scotland’s economy, but what is new and different that will mean that this strategy will deliver on the priorities you identified?

Thank you. We are essentially repeating the questions that were asked by Mr Beattie. I will go back to Mr Beattie, however, as he has a couple of questions to ask on broader issues.

Was the chair made aware at the same time as the board, or at a different time?

I mentioned that the Fraser of Allander Institute and other organisations have concerns that there is not enough detail, clarity or direction. The delivery plans will not be published for another six months. Why were they not published with the original document? Will they fill the vacuum that has been created?

I have a question that is connected to that. It is about the target that is set in the export plan to increase exports by 5 per cent to 25 per cent of gross domestic product by 2030. As Fiona Hyslop outlined, there are extreme pressures, such as Covid. We still have the hangover from Brexit and now the war in Ukraine is putting on pressure. Are you still confident about achieving that target? How will the plan have to change to acknowledge the situation that we are in?

I will bring in Michelle Thomson for a closing question.