Seòmar agus comataidhean

Anna Ritchie Allan, you have come back to the theme of the glacial pace of progress for female workers time and time again. Is there anything that SEIAC could do to speed up the pace of that?

Paul O’Kane, this is your line of questioning. Do you want to follow up on that?

I will bring in John Mason, who is going to look at finances. However, I am conscious that that is the last line of questioning, so, before I do so, I will put a broader question to the panel.

As is self-evident, the bill will either pass or it will not. Nevertheless, are there certain things that the bill would achieve that must happen, irrespective of whether it is passed? For example, whether or not the bill is passed, the research must still happen, and the criteria for getting on the list must be reviewed appropriately with regard to gender.

Perhaps each of you could comment from your own perspective. It is an opportunity for you to say something about what must happen in relation to industrial injuries and making sure that people are properly compensated. This is a good time to do it, because I am conscious that, once we get on to talking about the finances—we have to scrutinise robustly the finances underpinning the legislation—that takes us down a different avenue.

That is helpful. Are there any other comments?

I will mop up a couple of aspects. Clearly, a proactive approach to health and safety at work is desirable for everyone. Workers and trade unions on the ground see in real time exactly what is happening. They absolutely have that lived experience. Should SEIAC identify gaps in employment law and health and safety legislation while employment law and health and safety legislation are not devolved to Scotland? Should it have the power to make recommendations to the UK Government, with which the powers currently sit?

Linda, you have put on record that you would like some of that to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament. However, in lieu of that, in the meantime, should any new body make direct recommendations to the UK Government?

I have one more question before I hand over to my colleague John Mason to take up our final line of questioning. The Health and Safety Executive has been mentioned a few times during our evidence sessions. Last week, the HSE was compared to a policeman for workplaces and there was some debate about how visible it is in workplaces and how effective in ensuring that health and safety are upheld. Should the Health and Safety Executive work with SEIAC, if that body is created, and should the HSE be doing more anyway?

I had said that I would go to John Mason for our final line of questioning, but Katy Clark wants to come in on a point that it would make sense to deal with now.

I apologise, but before you move on further with your line of questioning, I note that John McKenzie wants to come in.

We are drifting slightly, Mr Mason.

I think that Norman Provan wanted to come in.

Okay. We will move to questions from Katy Clark.