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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 26 April 2025
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Displaying 1499 contributions

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Finance and Public Administration Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 12 September 2023

Michelle Thomson

I have indicated some of my concerns about the use of green freeports for money laundering and other nefarious activities. I will support the motion, with the proviso that I will look for a strenuous querying of the UK Government over its pretty appalling record in stopping money laundering. I recognise, yet again, the constraints within which the Scottish Government must operate. That is a function of devolution.

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 12 September 2023

Michelle Thomson

All of that is pretty standard, and having it all in place does not stop considerable money laundering and fraud—it is an epidemic—in the UK economy, overseen by the UK Government. I fully accept that most such powers are reserved, but Ross Greer made the important point that we have two choices—we can say, “That’s not very good,” or we can start to rattle the cage and use the powers that we have, which could absolutely disallow any offshore company or structure.

10:30  

Another point that has a bearing is that Scottish limited partnerships are well known for money laundering—they were at the root of the bombing in Beirut, and money that was being funnelled through them nearly brought down the entire Moldovan economy. They are well known and well understood.

Scottish limited partnerships affect our global brand name. If you have not had discussions with the UK Government, I ask you to have them and then return to the committee to set out exactly what assurances you have had and where you dispute points. This is our global brand, which is why I care passionately about it.

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Public Service Reform Programme

Meeting date: 27 June 2023

Michelle Thomson

As a follow-on, I suggest that one of the critical enablers for the utilisation of AI is sound collection of data. I fully accept what you say about the ethical use of such data, but how aware are you, as a council, of its being an enabler? You mentioned customer services, but that is almost looking at things the wrong way round. After all, the whole point of AI, which is driven by process, is that it blows up and breaks asunder a lot of the functions that we have already developed. How actively focused are you on collecting data as a minimum, given the massive processing power that AI can utilise off the back of that?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Public Service Reform Programme

Meeting date: 27 June 2023

Michelle Thomson

Are you taking active steps to develop a strategy—or even to conduct the research that will help frame such a strategy? Again, I am thinking specifically about how it might be utilised in public sector reform, which is all future focused. Where are you in developing your knowledge as a council?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Public Service Reform Programme

Meeting date: 27 June 2023

Michelle Thomson

Okay. Thank you.

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Public Service Reform Programme

Meeting date: 27 June 2023

Michelle Thomson

I will bring in Iain Tough and then Malcolm Burr, and then I have a follow-up question.

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Public Service Reform Programme

Meeting date: 27 June 2023

Michelle Thomson

Finally, I have a general question for all of you. What public sector reform guidance are you receiving from the Scottish Government to ensure that you include it? Are you grasping a sense of urgency from the Scottish Government that it is something that you need to look at? Have any conversations taken place?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Public Service Reform Programme

Meeting date: 27 June 2023

Michelle Thomson

Malcolm, I understand and appreciate that the scale of this will be markedly different for you.

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Public Service Reform Programme

Meeting date: 27 June 2023

Michelle Thomson

Is that the same for all of you?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Public Service Reform Programme

Meeting date: 27 June 2023

Michelle Thomson

Yes.