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 1041 contributions
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 28 February 2024
Kevin Stewart
I would not disagree with any of that, either. However, you have given a lot of the positives, but is there still too much interference and what is sometimes the bureaucratic nonsense of accountants and solicitors who do not have the experience of what is required on the front line for people?
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 28 February 2024
Kevin Stewart
Risk aversion is one of the things that is mentioned a fair amount and you have given some good examples. Thank you.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 28 February 2024
Kevin Stewart
Fair pay often ensures that absence rates and other things go down, as can taking account of folk’s caring responsibilities. Is enough work being done on that in procurement?
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 28 February 2024
Kevin Stewart
Grand. Martin, do you have anything to add on bureaucracy?
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 28 February 2024
Kevin Stewart
Thank you very much.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 28 February 2024
Kevin Stewart
You mentioned people, which is the key thing in all this. You talked earlier about delivering for the people of Scotland. Are people—the populace at large—utilised enough in some of the commissioning work, particularly specialist commissioning work that has an impact on their day-to-day lives?
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 28 February 2024
Kevin Stewart
I wonder whether David Livey or Duncan Thorp want to pick up on those questions.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 28 February 2024
Kevin Stewart
I am surprised that your members have not come up with some of them. I wonder whether Duncan Thorp has anything.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 28 February 2024
Kevin Stewart
Duncan, do you have anything to add?
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 28 February 2024
Kevin Stewart
Let me give you an example, and it might be something that you have come across. At certain points—although not so much recently—there has been a real aversion to putting fair work into contracts, with lawyers saying to folks, “We cannot really enforce this” or “We might be challenged on this.” There was also the European ruling—Rüffert v Land Niedersachsen. What is your feeling about aversion in that area and has it been overcome to the degree that you would like it to have been?