Minutes: 19 March 2025

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 4, 6 and 7 in private.

2. Employment Rights Bill (UK Parliament legislation):

The Committee took evidence on legislative consent memorandum LCM(S6-53) from—

Ivan McKee, Minister for Public Finance, supported by Stephen Garland, Unit Head, Fair Work Division, Jo Mitchell, Procurement Policy Manager and Megan Lawson, Lawyer, Scottish Government.

3. New Deal for Business:

The Committee took take evidence from—

Daniel Johnson declared an interest as a non-working director of Stripe Retail Ltd.

Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, supported by Judith Young, Deputy Director, Strategic Economic and Business Engagement Division, Scottish Government;

Dr Poonam Malik, Co-chair, New Deal for Business Group (NDBG).

4. Employment Rights Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard under agenda item 2 on legislative consent memorandum LCM(S6-53) and agreed to note the LCM, in anticipation of a supplementary LCM.

5. New Deal for Business (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard under agenda item 3 and agreed to consider a draft letter to the Scottish Government on its findings, in private, at a future meeting.

6. Correspondence (in Private):

The Committee considered correspondence from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic and agreed to write to Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd. The Committee agreed its responses to Amnesty International UK on public funds for companies operating in the defence sector, to the Finance and Public Administration Committee on the Scottish budget process and to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice on development of the next Tackling Child Poverty Action Plan. The Committee also considered a letter from the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee about its inquiry on committee effectiveness. The Committee noted the inquiry but took no position. 

7. Work programme (In Private):

The Convener reported back from his recent meeting with Microsoft UK and the Committee agreed to the request from members of the cross-committee on tackling drug deaths and drug harm to consider a recommendation from the People’s Panel on employability support for people in recovery.