Chamber and committees

I was going to bring in Pat. Other members will have further questions on BiFab.

Achieving a just transition involves Government policy, and trade unions have a role, but it is also about business and industry. Do you feel that the businesses and industries that are based in Scotland are committed to the programme and that they have a shared understanding of what it means?

I will bring in Colin Beattie, to be followed by Michelle Thomson.

Sorry. I thought that you had more to contribute.

I briefly suspend the meeting to allow the witnesses to leave.

That brings us to the end of the evidence session. I thank the witnesses for sharing their views.

I think that it has been mentioned that we will visit Grangemouth on 20 March. If there is evidence that you have not been able to provide this morning, please feel free to provide written evidence to the inquiry as we move through the next few weeks.

Mr Bowen, did you want—

Good morning and welcome to the sixth meeting in 2023 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. Our first item of business is a decision on whether to take items 4 and 5 in private. Are members content to do so?

Members indicated agreement.

I have a question for Dominic Pritchard that is similar to the one that Pat Rafferty addressed. What are the challenges or the barriers? Pat said that there is a lack of confidence that jobs will move over. Is there a framework in place whereby people’s skills can be transferred to other sectors? At the moment, are we clear about what those other sectors are? From the evidence that we heard last week, it seems that there are a lot of energy plans that have not yet been developed or are not yet feasible or commercial. Is it clear where the workforce would move to and what its just transition future looks like?

Thank you. I recognise that you are here representing Forth Ports and not the broader situation.

Liz McAreavey, do you want to say something about the businesses that you represent and the flow of private finance into supporting the just transition? Are you finding that people are able to access finance? We have heard from witnesses this morning and in previous sessions that there is an appetite for investment, and recognition that investment and returns can be made. Do you find that the flow of money is positive?

At the moment, the work that is being undertaken is not linked specifically to Grangemouth, is it? It is broader work.

Okay, thank you.

Michelle Primrose and Stuart Wallace, welcome to the committee. I will ask a general question. Do you think that there is a shared understanding of what a just transition is? There are a number of terms, and Hisashi Kuboyama talked about confusion for small businesses around whether we are aiming for carbon neutral, net zero or whatever. Is there a shared understanding in the Grangemouth area of what a just transition means, and of your responsibility in helping to deliver that?

Okay, thank you.