Chamber and committees

The announcement said that the closure would be in spring 2025.

So you are saying that the timescale is not clear—that is, that the work is starting, but the timescale for the closure is not clear. That leaves the people working there in quite a suspended situation, because they do not know.

I will bring in Evelyn Tweed, and then I will come back to the issue of green freeports with Colin Beattie.

I call Colin Smyth, followed by Maggie Chapman.

I have a couple of quick questions. With the move to becoming an importing business, will any assessment be made of where refined product comes from and how it is refined? We can consider international standards. The UK has high standards when it comes to health and safety in the workplace and the products that we produce. How can we be assured that what comes in meets those standards? Has any assessment been made of whether it will?

Good morning, and welcome to the 32nd meeting in 2023 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee.

Murdo Fraser MSP is joining us remotely. We are also joined by Stephen Kerr MSP, and I also expect Jackie Dunbar MSP to come to this morning’s meeting. Although they are not committee members, they are attending the evidence-taking session on Grangemouth, and I welcome them to the committee.

Our first item of business is to decide whether to take item 3 in private. Are members content to do so?

Members indicated agreement.

Was the announcement unplanned as far as the workers were concerned? Were they aware that it was likely to be coming along, or was it a surprise for them?

Please be brief, Mr Kerr, as we are expecting the cabinet secretary in about five minutes.

Thank you, cabinet secretary.

I do not want to disappoint the cabinet secretary, but this morning it sounded like the decision had been taken to close the refinery. You described it as a potential to move, but it sounded like there was a clear intention to move. The dispute this morning just seemed to be about the date—whether it would be spring 2025 or some future date. I do not know whether other committee members agree, but the evidence that we heard earlier this morning did not make it sound like the decision was up for much discussion. Has the cabinet secretary had a chance to listen to the evidence this morning? Does that reflect the discussions that he is having?

That was a recommendation of the committee.