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 2361 contributions
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Mark Ruskell
David, I will ask you about the big policy drivers towards decarbonisation—in particular, the impact of the carbon border adjustment model and the integration of emissions trading schemes in the UK, EU and Switzerland. Where are there barriers to establishing more efficient carbon markets? What is the likelihood of bigger markets and more integration across Europe? I know that that is a big question.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Mark Ruskell
That is the reality of how that massive sector is developing. What does that mean for individuals such as yourself who are looking to go where the work is? Is that becoming increasingly difficult under Brexit? Is there still flexibility? Can you find a way through the visa requirements so that you could be working in Paris this year but perhaps somewhere else next year?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Mark Ruskell
Which sectors would find £38,700 as a minimum salary problematic?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Mark Ruskell
Yes please. That is always really useful.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Mark Ruskell
I am interested in pursuing that line of questioning with David Decrock. My impression of the energy sector, which is very innovative, is that it is quite multinational in that, rather than being based in one particular region of a country where a specialist workforce can be recruited, it is very much spread across countries in a thematic way, with the innovation being to do with collaboration and partnership. When you walk into a room where a group of companies are working together in partnership, what does the sector look like? Are all the people from one place, or is it a multinational workforce that collaborates in different ways?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Mark Ruskell
Thanks—that is good. Gareth?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Mark Ruskell
I have been reflecting on the challenges that your members have in relation to the loss of free movement of labour across the EU and the UK, and it would be good to get into a bit more detail about what would work for businesses. I am looking at the UK Government’s application page for the skilled worker visa, on which there are obviously a number of restrictions: your job has to be “eligible” for the visa in the first place; you must
“work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office;”
and the minimum salary has to be £38,700 per year, or higher, there is a higher going rate for the work that you will be doing.
Do those rules work for your businesses? If they do not, how would you want those rules to be modified in order for labour to meet the needs of businesses in the UK? Catherine, do you want to start?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Mark Ruskell
Please do.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Mark Ruskell
None of that is driving productivity in UK business, is it?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Mark Ruskell
It is not driving economic growth. It is just bureaucracy, is it not?