Chamber and committees

I do not know whether Stuart Bews and Jim Grant want to respond to this. You say that the Scottish Government has an understanding of what just transition is and what it is wanting to achieve, but you are probably some of the key delivery partners. Is there enough support or communication? Is there a shared understanding of what the Scottish Government is trying to deliver? Is that clear enough?

Thank you.

If members and witnesses can keep their questions and answers as concise and direct as possible, that will mean that we can get more questions in.

I will start. This question reflects some of the discussions that we have already had today. How would the panel define a just transition? What would a just transition for the north-east and Moray look like? I will go to some of the people who helped us out this morning, as they have already had a go at answering that question.

Thank you. I go to Jim Grant from Moray Council. What does Moray Council understand a just transition to be? How will we know when that has been achieved or delivered?

Good afternoon, and welcome to the 27th meeting in 2023 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. This week, we are pleased to be meeting in Aberdeen. This is the first time that the committee has met outside Holyrood this session. I thank Aberdeen City Council very much for hosting us in this magnificent room.

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

Members indicated agreement.

Good morning, and welcome to the 26th meeting in 2023 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. Our first item of business is to decide whether to take agenda item 5 in private. Are members content to do so?

Members indicated agreement.

The bill makes some limited and fairly technical changes to diligence but we have heard calls to reform diligence against earnings. There have been suggestions that the amount that is protected should go up to £1,000 and that there should be a system of deductions that takes account of family size—I think that the Scottish Parliament report “Robbing Peter to pay Paul: Low income and the debt trap” recommended that second proposal. It has also been suggested that some flexibility for creditors could be introduced to the system so that they could reduce the amount seized from earnings if it helped to support the debtor with their liabilities.

Alan, you have done some work on that. Will you talk to the committee about it?

Our second item of business is a further evidence session on the Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. Today, we will hear from front-line money advisers. I welcome Alan McIntosh, who is an approved money adviser at Advice Talks Ltd; Joe McMonagle, who is money advice training and development officer at South Lanarkshire Council; and Natalia Mendel, who is money advice manager at Dalkeith and District Citizens Advice Bureau. I thank the witnesses for coming along.

I ask members and witnesses to keep their questions and answers as concise as possible. If a witness agrees with one of their colleagues on the panel, they should not feel the need to repeat what they have said, please. We are quite happy to hear from one member of the panel.

I invite Colin Smyth to ask the first questions. As you know, the bill seeks to introduce a mental health moratorium. The first few questions will focus on that area.

Natalia and Joe, do you have anything to add in respect of your clients and the impact of wage arrestments?

I thank the witnesses for joining us—it is much appreciated. We now move into private session.

Sorry, Mr Stewart, is it possible to make some progress? We are a bit pressed for time—