The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 1830 contributions
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 12 December 2024
Stephen Kerr
Therefore, the skills shortages issue is a much broader issue than the issue of youth mobility. We have a long-term structural problem in our country when it comes to producing skilled people to fulfil the jobs that need to be done. Is that not a fair comment?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 12 December 2024
Stephen Kerr
What are numbers 2 and 3, just out of curiosity?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 12 December 2024
Stephen Kerr
The way that you have described it demonstrates that it is clearly important for the UK and EU member states. I will ask you the question again in order to get a clear understanding. I am thinking about EU member states and particularly those that have been the worst impacted by energy prices. I have a family connection in northern Europe, so I know about their energy bills and what they are having to deal with is horrific. Is there sufficient pressure from member states on the Commission or within the various councils of the Council of the European Union to make it possible for some of those barriers that you have described to be overcome?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 12 December 2024
Stephen Kerr
More than anything else, then, is it a function of the growth that is occurring in those markets that explains the difference?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 12 December 2024
Stephen Kerr
You are publishing the report on 23 December—is that correct?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 5 December 2024
Stephen Kerr
Would it have been more helpful if we had not?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 5 December 2024
Stephen Kerr
I did not get the other of the two submissions in time, so I am focusing on you, Ben. I apologise.
You said something—I found this to be quite interesting—about architects coming into the UK. The view seems to be that that is difficult to achieve in the current visa environment. As a matter of interest, the current salary qualification for a work visa in the UK is £38,700, and the point that was made in your submission is that that would be too high for a qualified architect. I found that quite bizarre. I have this idea in my head that after studying seven years at university and being a qualified architect, someone would probably be earning more than £38,700.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 5 December 2024
Stephen Kerr
Is that right? Do most architects not earn more than £38,700?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 5 December 2024
Stephen Kerr
Okay—I am going on what is in the paper.
You see the rest of the world as an opportunity. I absolutely accept the argument about of the exchange of ideas. It is obvious that the whole profession exists on the basis of new ideas and new thoughts. Does that happen with the rest of the world but not the EU?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 5 December 2024
Stephen Kerr
Are you equating exchange of ideas with mobility?