Chamber and committees

I have three questions on labour supply and investment to attract labour.

The Finance and Public Administration Committee, which is chaired by your colleague Kenny Gibson, says that the evidence of Scotland’s economic underperformance is “deeply worrying”. We have higher rates of economic inactivity than exist elsewhere in the UK, and there are problems across all areas around the skills gap, with lifestyle choices and lower life expectancy leading to earlier retirement. What are you doing specifically to reduce economic inactivity and increase our domestic labour supply?

Thank you. I will forward examples of the disconnect between the scheme and the cost of installation.

I have a second totally different question on Registers of Scotland. Its budget for 2021-22 is down 25 per cent. Could you give us the reasoning behind that? It appears that registration is behind schedule, particularly for local authorities, which have not really started the process. I declare my registration of interests in property.

Good morning, cabinet secretary. I have a question on broadband. A number of constituents and private installers have contacted me about the voucher scheme and have said that it is not working properly and they are not getting any indication of when that will be resolved. It is also clear that the value of the vouchers will not cover installation costs, particularly in rural areas. I know that your constituency falls into that category. I would be grateful if you could comment on those points and provide an update on the timeline for completion of the reaching 100 per cent broadband programme.

Thank you. Will you review the value of the vouchers?

Convener, my question has already been covered. I have no further questions, thank you.

No—that is fine and very helpful. Thank you very much. As you have said, the guidance is one thing, but the resource behind that will, I am sure, be the subject of debate for many years to come.

Will Professor Fothergill say something about the consequences of not signing up to the scheme?

I apologise to the panel for taking it back to the beginning of the meeting, but my question is a supplementary to the first question. There appears to be a consensus that the proposed rules on state aid are an improvement on the previous rules—obviously notwithstanding any further improvements that could be made. I want to ask two questions, the first of which is to Steven Heddle. COSLA’s submission says that the previous EU regime could have a “lowest common denominator” effect that could sometimes constrain public funding. Will you explain a bit more about that, give an example, and say whether that negative effect has been removed under the current proposals?

My second question, which is to Professor Fothergill, echoes Fiona Hyslop’s comments on the purpose of this session. You have said that the alternative would be an “unhelpful free-for-all”. Will you explain what the impact of not signing up to the scheme would be?

I do not have any further questions. I do not know whether Professor Bell or George Peretz has anything to add.

Just to be clear, does Scottish Enterprise cover the agriculture sector? If not, whose remit does it fall under?

Thank you. Can Nick Shields comment on the other issue of material inputs, particularly fertiliser?