Minutes: 15 November 2023

1. Declaration of interests:

Evelyn Tweed stated she had no relevant interests to declare.

2. Just Transition for the North East and Moray:

The Committee took evidence from—

John Boland, Regional Officer, UNITE;

Emma Harrick, Head of Energy Transition and Supply Chain, Scottish Renewables;

Mia McCarthy, Head of Sustainability, SSE Group;

Maggie McGinlay, Chief Executive, ETZ Ltd.

and then from—

Professor Paul de Leeuw, Director, Robert Gordon University Energy Transition Institute.

Gordon McGuinness, Director of Industry & Enterprise Networks, Skills Development Scotland;

Suzanne Sosna, Director of Economic Opportunities and Climate, Scottish Enterprise.

3. Just Transition for the North East and Moray (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

4. Work programme (In Private):

At its business planning session on 1 November the Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government seeking updates on (a) allocations from the £100m to support business digital capability, (b) the development of a retail Fair Work Agreement, (c) reform of Compulsory Purchase Orders and (d) action taken in response to the Auditor General for Scotland recommendation that it further develop its framework for investment in private companies. It also agreed to write to the Scottish Government asking how it monitors the cohesiveness of its strategies. The Committee also agreed to consider papers on the disability employment gap and New Deal for Business and city region and growth deals at a future meeting.