Chamber and committees

If workers—even those who are highly skilled—need reskilling to some extent, who will take that forward? Are we clear about that? Will it be them personally, their present employer or somebody else?

Another of the GMB’s concerns goes a bit wider, but it is one that I share. Are we placing enough emphasis on practical skills and apprenticeships for those young people who are coming on to the job market, or are schools still putting too much emphasis on the academic side?

I realise that it is an early stage in the process.

I want to touch on other parts of the public sector—for example, planning and consenting regimes, which will mainly be the responsibility of local authorities. Mr Middleton has already mentioned the US subsidies, which are competing with us. If another country gives planning permission more quickly than we are able to, the jobs might be attracted there. Are you able to reassure us that other parts of the public sector, such as Scottish Enterprise and local authorities, are really on board?

It is a pleasure to be at today’s meeting. As the cabinet secretary will probably know, I am a substitute member of the committee, so I have not been involved in this inquiry as much as others have. However, I have heard a lot of interesting stuff today.

In relation to the workforce—both direct employees and also contractors and others who are a bit further away from the main players—I am picking up that there is concern in some circles. I take the point that you have met the unions and that an engagement officer is in place. However, in its evidence, GMB Scotland said:

“A ‘just transition’ is happening to workers, not with workers.”

What is your reaction to that?

What about the younger people coming through?

Would it be fair to say that we are making better decisions because of that consultation, or does that not necessarily follow?

In previous committee sessions, mainly with civil servants and people in the Government, there has been a lot of talk about transparency. When people in the public sector make decisions, they are subject to freedom of information and other regulations whereas, in the private sector, that is not generally the case. Does that lead to better decision making in the private sector?

That is interesting. I will leave it at that, convener.

Yes, we could probably explore that further. I presume that with some decisions, even within business, you are 80 per cent sure when you make the decision and you might be able to improve on it as you go along, although the risk is that you have just made totally the wrong decision and you have to start again.

From what you can see, the public sector probably does not do that.

Mr Thomas, do you want to come in on that?