Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you. I understand that there is a new memorandum of understanding between the convention and the Scottish Government. Do you want to say a bit about the purpose of that and what you hope that will achieve?

Good morning, and welcome to the 25th meeting in 2024 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. Our first item of business is a decision on whether to take item 3 in private. Do members agree to take item 3 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Committee members will pick up on particular areas. You have given a really helpful overview of some of the key indicators.

Do you want to say a bit more about the disability employment gap? The committee has undertaken an inquiry into that, and we are near to publishing our report, so we are interested in that area. As you pointed out, Scotland was sixth out of eight on that indicator.

You said that Scotland had made good progress on payment of the living wage and that part of that was down to the Government’s focus on that issue, with targeted improvements. Have the countries that are doing better in relation to the disability employment gap achieved progress because of Government direction? Do we need to see more activity from the Scottish Government? I know that we are making some progress, but there are concerns that there is still quite a lot to do to close the gap. Do you have a view on what the Government needs to do and on why we are sitting at sixth out of eight?

I am sorry to interrupt, but will the budget that we are facing slow down the pace that you have said the Scottish National Investment Bank is working at?

If it is very brief.

Bob Doris, do you wish to ask a supplementary?

In that case, I will let you in before I bring in Kevin Stewart.

I have a couple of questions before we finish. We have had wide discussion of financial transactions. My understanding of financial transactions is that they are consequences of UK Government spending. The former First Minister initially described them as a con before they were seen as a solution to funding the Scottish National Investment Bank. The Scottish Government has said that it assumes that there will be no further financial transactions. I come back to the Scottish National Investment Bank. The £2 billion funding is dependent on financial transactions, and the Scottish Government assumes that there will be no further financial transactions. What discussions are you having with it about alternatives, and how confident are you about the £2 billion, given that assumption?

I have the same question for Scottish Enterprise about the assumption that there will be no further financial transactions, which play a significant part in your funding. There are options for the Scottish Government to transfer funds from resource to capital budgets. Would you ask it to do that, and what discussions are you having about alternative funding?

I am sorry to interrupt, but we are a bit pressed for time. Before I move on to Scottish Enterprise, looking a bit further forward, you will know that the ScotWind revenue of £450 million may be used to support resource spending in the coming year. As a body, you have previously commented on the importance of ScotWind and the opportunities that it presents for renewables investment. Do you have any comment on the Government’s announcement of the use of the remaining £450 million that came from ScotWind?