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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 6 July 2025
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Displaying 1690 contributions

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Finance and Public Administration Committee [Draft]

Public Administration in the Scottish Government

Meeting date: 24 June 2025

Michelle Thomson

Do you think that that is slightly optimistic, given that most people will have personal devices as well? If what you are describing is advisory, there is nothing to stop them using their personal devices to carry on transacting Government business.

Finance and Public Administration Committee [Draft]

Public Administration in the Scottish Government

Meeting date: 24 June 2025

Michelle Thomson

Good morning, and thank you for joining us. Following up on public sector reform, what percentage of the 9,000-plus staff that you have are either managers or team leaders?

Finance and Public Administration Committee [Draft]

Public Administration in the Scottish Government

Meeting date: 24 June 2025

Michelle Thomson

That is quite out of sync with what best industry standards are. I appreciate that you are new in post, but, going back to an earlier discussion that you had with the convener, I will always press for specific plans to be put in place along with the associated measures—otherwise, how will we know that they are successful? You can be sure that I look forward to bringing that up again when you next appear in front of us.

Let us move on to mobile messaging apps, which you referenced in your opening statement. How will you ensure that WhatsApp, Signal or other apps are not used for Government business by staff or by ministers themselves on their personal devices?

Finance and Public Administration Committee [Draft]

Public Administration in the Scottish Government

Meeting date: 24 June 2025

Michelle Thomson

My firm advice to you would be to look afresh at that. Frankly, it is no justification, under law, for you to say, “Ah, well, that is what everybody else was doing.” The Supreme Court judgment was compellingly clear. There is the threat of two further potential legal actions and my firm advice to you, permanent secretary, would be to get on it, because, from a public sector point of view, you are, ultimately, the accountable officer who is responsible for ensuring that the Scottish Government upholds the law. Regardless of your view on the matter, I personally think that it is a very poor look that, 10 weeks after the judgment, we have not done anything about it.

Finance and Public Administration Committee [Draft]

Public Administration in the Scottish Government

Meeting date: 24 June 2025

Michelle Thomson

Even though—this is in the public domain—Baroness Falkner is saying that you “should not wait for” the EHRC’s guidance?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 18 June 2025

Michelle Thomson

Good morning—I thank the witnesses for joining us. We had quite a protracted discussion with the earlier panel on the financing needed to enable the good work and good outcomes that we want to see arising from the bill. I am aware that many of the ideas that have been discussed are reserved, and I am also aware that the Scottish Government has a fixed budget. That affects not only what we choose to spend the money on but the way in which we spend it and our appetite for risk.

I am interested in your views on the extent to which funding mechanisms have been considered—even by yourselves—and where you see the opportunities within the limitations that I have set out. Gail Macgregor, do you want to go first?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Product Regulation and Metrology Bill (UK Parliament Legislation)

Meeting date: 18 June 2025

Michelle Thomson

What consideration have you given to the potential for divergence from EU regulation by the UK Government against a principled approach and agreement of this Parliament, wherever possible, to align? Have you considered practical examples of where that might occur?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Product Regulation and Metrology Bill (UK Parliament Legislation)

Meeting date: 18 June 2025

Michelle Thomson

In areas where the UK Government might seek to diverge, do you think that you are covered by now having the requirement that it must seek consent from Scottish ministers?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 18 June 2025

Michelle Thomson

This is a very general question, and there will be lots of different answers across the 32 local councils. In general terms, given the chronic power restrictions on financing, how much of an entrepreneurial bent do you think councils have? To derive answers in community wealth building, we will need people to think creatively because of the complexity and challenges. What is your general sense of that—by appetite, capacity and capability?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 18 June 2025

Michelle Thomson

Morven Taylor, I am aware you have not had a chance to come in yet. Would you like to come in on this, briefly? I sense that I have already overrun my time.