Chamber and committees

I call Colin Smyth, to be followed by Lorna Slater.

I call Lorna Slater, to be followed by Michelle Thomson.

Would VisitScotland like to respond to Michelle Thomson’s question about women in business? How is your organisation supporting the businesses that you work with?

I am also interested in how you target a female international market. Do you look at gendered aspects of tourism when thinking about people from other countries?

I think that part of the Government’s refresh of NSET is a refocusing on key priority sectors. Do you feel that tourism will be maintained as a priority sector?

I thank all the witnesses this morning for their time. That brings us to the end of the evidence session.

Good morning and welcome to the 22nd meeting in 2024 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee.

Our first item of business is a decision on whether to take item 3 in private. Are members content to do so and to consider pre-budget evidence in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Our next item of business is an evidence session with the enterprise agencies and Visit Scotland, which will inform the committee’s pre-budget consideration.? Each agency has provided a written statement, which members have.

I welcome: Stuart Black and Nick Kenton, respectively the chief executive and finance director of Highlands and Islands Enterprise; Jane Morrison-Ross and Anthony Daye, respectively the chief executive and director of finance and corporate resources of South of Scotland Enterprise; and Vicki Miller and Ken Neilson, respectively the director of marketing and digital and director of corporate services of VisitScotland.

We have six witnesses today, so members and witnesses are asked to keep questions and answers as concise as possible. I have asked members to direct their questions to one person from each organisation, and I ask that person to reply and to bring the other person in only if they feel that there is additional information that they cannot provide.

Today’s focus is on the budget. Last week, Parliament was given the programme for government and the in-year financial statement. The Government is prioritising tackling child poverty and all parties agree that part of the solution to that is to grow our economy.

We understand that the Government is under significant financial pressures, but all three organisations that are represented here this morning have had fairly significant cuts to their budgets. Can you tell us what impact the funding pressures that you are facing this year, and those that you have faced in recent years, are having on your ability to deliver on your core objectives to support the regions and Scotland in growing the economy?

I come first to South of Scotland Enterprise—you can decide between you who wants to lead on that.

We turn to questions from Michelle Thomson and Brian Whittle.

Do you think that NSET has not had that focus so far? Should a refreshed NSET have a greater focus on place and on the potential in rural economies?

Thank you.

Finally, Vicky, can you say something about NSET’s relevance to your organisation and what you are looking for in a refreshed NSET?