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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 19 December 2024
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Displaying 895 contributions

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Finance and Public Administration Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2022-23: Public Finances and the Impact of Covid-19

Meeting date: 14 September 2021

Liz Smith

You are going to tell me that you would like more money in order to do those things. Do you feel that certain structures should be changed to allow for what you describe as a fairer spend?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2022-23: Public Finances and the Impact of Covid-19

Meeting date: 7 September 2021

Liz Smith

Do you have particular recommendations on home schooling and making that link?

10:15  

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2022-23: Public Finances and the Impact of Covid-19

Meeting date: 7 September 2021

Liz Smith

That is a very helpful answer.

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2022-23: Public Finances and the Impact of Covid-19

Meeting date: 7 September 2021

Liz Smith

The issue of accountability and scrutiny in the tax-and-spend system is obviously a prime consideration for the committee. To its credit, the Finance and Constitution Committee tried hard during the previous session of Parliament to ensure that there is good-quality scrutiny of the decisions that are made in Parliament.

What do we have to do to improve on the scrutiny and accountability of the tax and spend system? Other committees in the Parliament have investigated several aspects of it and have come down on the side that, in some cases, gross mismanagement of procurement and so on had taken place, which does not help the public’s acceptance of the tax system that exists. Do you have any suggestions about what we could you do to improve its accountability? I see that Joanne is nodding.

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2022-23: Public Finances and the Impact of Covid-19

Meeting date: 7 September 2021

Liz Smith

There is the question of the renegotiation of the fiscal framework, which has to take place shortly. It has been put to us that there are elements, particularly some of the technical aspects, of the fiscal framework that might make cohesion between the two Governments difficult. I know that you will not advise on policy, but do you have any comments on any of the technical difficulties of the existing fiscal framework, which runs from 2016 until now?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2022-23: Public Finances and the Impact of Covid-19

Meeting date: 7 September 2021

Liz Smith

Mr Robertson, I was interested in your comment to the convener about your concern about contracts between tenants and the people who rent out properties. You said that some of the legislative changes that have taken place have not been particularly helpful. Will you expand on what you meant by that?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2022-23: Public Finances and the Impact of Covid-19

Meeting date: 7 September 2021

Liz Smith

It is one thing having a device but it is another thing having the skills to use it and complete job applications and all the things that are important in accessing the job market. What do we need to do to ensure that people who have devices are better educated on how to use them in order to access the world of work?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2022-23: Public Finances and the Impact of Covid-19

Meeting date: 7 September 2021

Liz Smith

That is helpful.

It is not just young people; some older people are not very digitally able and do not have access to many of the digital formats that we do. What has to happen to ensure that there is less inequality within the older age group, many of whom would make a huge contribution if they had the facilities to do so but are finding it difficult to have a meaningful job?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2022-23: Public Finances and the Impact of Covid-19

Meeting date: 7 September 2021

Liz Smith

Thank you.

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2022-23: Public Finances and the Impact of Covid-19

Meeting date: 7 September 2021

Liz Smith

I turn our attention to what all the witnesses, rightly, said in their submissions, which is that the pandemic has had a disproportionate effect and placed a disproportionate burden on many people who are on a low income. John Dickie, you gave an answer to John Mason, in which you mentioned employment opportunities. One of the things that holds many people back is a lack of access to digital skills and, therefore, to good work. What should the priority be in how we reduce inequality by enabling people to access those digital skills that will be crucial to the economy?