Chamber and committees

I want to move on to a different subject, as other members will come back to NSET.

As part of our pre-budget scrutiny, we took evidence from VisitScotland, which, as you will know, has received an in-year adjustment of its budget. It told us that, as a result, planned digital campaigns cannot go ahead this year, and it explained that, with the impact happening in-year, the timescales for its businesses mean that it is anticipating that there will be a direct impact on our tourism sector this year as a result of its scaling back some of its digital work.

You will be familiar with the package of support measures that the tourism sector believes that it needs. Some are reserved—it has mentioned VAT—but others are devolved. I am thinking of business rates, and some concerns have been expressed about divergence in income tax policies. What priority does tourism have within NSET? As a comparison, the investment that Ireland makes puts us in the shade; it is not on the same scale. How do we ensure that tourism is prioritised?

I have some final questions about Ana Stewart’s review, which was published just over a year ago. Although recent figures for the number of women starting businesses have been quite positive, showing that women start businesses at pretty much the same rate as men, we know that that is only part of the story. Women-owned businesses do not have the same longevity or lifespan as male-owned businesses and face difficulties in accessing finance, which is not such a barrier for male-owned businesses.

Can you say more about how you intend to implement Ana Stewart’s review and provide support? Where will that go next?

Before we move to questions from Colin Smyth, I want to go back to NSET. Mark Logan, the chief entrepreneurial adviser to the Scottish Government, was initially serving a two-year term, which expired in September. What evaluation has been made of that role, is Mark Logan still in post, and what is the status of that post?

I thank the cabinet secretary for joining us. That brings us to the end of our evidence session, and the committee will now move into private session.

I would like to make some progress. I call Gordon MacDonald.

Good morning, and welcome to the 26th meeting in 2024 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. Our first item of business is to decide whether to take items 5 and 6 in private. Are members content to do so?

Members indicated agreement.

I thank the minister and his officials for joining us today, and I briefly suspend the meeting to allow for a changeover of witnesses.

Some members wish to ask a couple of supplementaries, if the cabinet secretary has time.

I have a question about business rates reform and income tax, which might be more for the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government. On the latter issue, we have previously asked about work on whether divergence is having any positive or negative impact. Is the Scottish Government doing work to track the impact of divergence on income tax policy, and will we see progress on business rates reform?

We will make some progress and turn to questions from Willie Coffey.