Chamber and committees

It was in March, and the delivery plans were published in August, I think.

The question was about how the £50 million will be spent this year. If we could get a note about that following the meeting, that would be helpful.

A chief business adviser role has been created, and an appointment has been made, in the past week. How does that role work together with the chief entrepreneurial adviser?

Thank you very much, cabinet secretary. You referred to the letter that you received from the committee on the areas that we considered as part of our budget consideration. Notwithstanding the significant economic challenges that Scotland is facing due to a number of external factors, pressures on the budget have led to difficult decisions being made. One such decision was a reduction in spending for employability services.

The Fraser of Allander Institute has published a report on and an analysis of that decision. When the committee took evidence from businesses, they talked about the tightness in the labour market and the value of bringing those who are furthest away from it into employment.

I asked the First Minister about the cuts at the Conveners Group, and we have had letters from Richard Lochhead and, I think, from you about that. The £53 million was money that had not been spent. It looks as though we are being told that there is nothing to worry about here, but a reduction has been made. Had that money not been committed? Is that why the decision was taken?

Is it £68 million minus £53 million?

I have a couple of quick questions—one is perhaps more expansive than the other. The first is on programme 4, which is entitled “Skilled workforce”. In recent years, there have been a number of reports, including the enterprise and skills review, which is supposed to be implemented, and the Audit Scotland report, which was critical of relationships between the Scottish Funding Council and others.

James Withers is now undertaking a review of skills, which is the one issue that those on all our industrial business panels talk about. They say that they do not have the right skills or the right people in the right places. When will people stop telling the committee that? It consistently comes up as one of the key issues for all sectors, from tourism to renewables; those in every sector talk about their frustration at the skills landscape.

It is okay if it is brief.

Graham Simpson has a short supplementary question.

If Maggie Chapman does not mind, I will bring in Gordon MacDonald first, as I think that he has a supplementary question.

You have expressed frustration at the level of bureaucracy that exists in Scotland when it comes to making change and have expressed concerns about the Scottish Government’s mindset in relation to focusing on the economy. Your appointment was made by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, but is there cross-departmental work taking place?