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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 25 December 2024
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Displaying 1041 contributions

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Economy and Fair Work Committee

Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

Meeting date: 7 February 2024

Kevin Stewart

Stacey Dingwall, what feedback have you had on that from your members?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 31 January 2024

Kevin Stewart

My final question fits in well with your answer about the green industrial strategy and our investment proposals from it. We know that, in certain sectors, there is huge potential. We have huge potential with hydrogen, particularly for export. We know that the German economy will require substantial amounts of hydrogen and we have the ability to produce it here in Scotland. Obviously, we then have to get it to Germany. Colleagues, including Mr Beattie, and I have had conversations with folk who are very excited about our potential and what can be done here. It would not be difficult to get private investment for a number of the projects if the seedcorn money were there initially. Will the cabinet secretary comment on that? Will we peruse and pick some of those projects to ensure that we get the private sector investment that is required in order to move some of those things forward?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 31 January 2024

Kevin Stewart

To move forward to net zero and achieve a just transition we will have to invest in innovation. I have heard you and other members of the Government say that we will have to be much more focused with investment. We saw the budget decisions that, unfortunately, had to be taken on reducing enterprise agency money. Looking at everything in the round, however, with enterprise agency investment and just transition fund investment, how do we ensure that we allocate the resource to the right companies and entrepreneurs so that we make sure that we reach our goal of net zero and that just transition?

I will give you an example. The other week, I met Zephyrus Aerolabs, which is a very smart tech company in my constituency. Sometimes, it is difficult for those companies to get seed funding for that initial spurt of growth. How will we ensure that the enterprise agencies moneys and the other moneys that are allocated go to the right places to create that spark so that we get what we all want to see, which is that growing green economy?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 31 January 2024

Kevin Stewart

Good morning, cabinet secretary. I will follow on from Maggie Chapman’s questions on employability funding. I recognise the severe pressures on the budget, but I think that there are things that can be done that do not require huge amounts of money.

Let me give you an example. We have a huge pool of talent in our neurodiverse population, yet so many folks with neurodiversity find it very difficult to get into employment. We have seen, over the years, the difference that the carer positive employer scheme has made in getting carers into employment. Would the cabinet secretary and his colleagues consider looking at whether a neurodiverse positive employer scheme could be established to get folk into the workforce—a workforce that would be better for having them?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 31 January 2024

Kevin Stewart

Thanks for that positive response.

I will change tack a little. Obviously, as a north-east MSP, ensuring a just transition is a priority for me. I certainly welcome the Government’s commitment to the north-east just transition fund. I wish that the UK Government would act in a similar manner and match the moneys that the Scottish Government has allocated for that. However, one thing that is missing from the budget is the £80 million that was committed by the Scottish Government for the Scottish cluster for carbon capture and storage. I recognise that we are still waiting on track 2 decisions from the UK Government, but could you give us an indication of what will happen here, given that there is no allocation? If there is a move from the UK Government, will the Scottish Government find the money that has been promised to ensure that the Scottish cluster goes ahead?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25 (Tourism and Hospitality)

Meeting date: 24 January 2024

Kevin Stewart

Have you got a spy looking over my shoulder at my notes, Colin?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25 (Tourism and Hospitality)

Meeting date: 24 January 2024

Kevin Stewart

On the VAT threshold and folk choosing not to trade up beyond £85,000, do you have any idea how many of the businesses that you represent fall into that bracket?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25 (Tourism and Hospitality)

Meeting date: 24 January 2024

Kevin Stewart

Please, convener.

Colin Wilkinson talked about being hit by legislation and gave the example of the low-emission zone in Glasgow. It would be interesting to see the figures from the LEZ, particularly as we move forward with change. What other legislation, Colin, do you think is having an impact?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25 (Tourism and Hospitality)

Meeting date: 24 January 2024

Kevin Stewart

What legislation is that?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25 (Tourism and Hospitality)

Meeting date: 24 January 2024

Kevin Stewart

Many other parts of the world have tourism levies that have worked and have not had an impact. How would a tourism levy coming into play here be different from the tourism levies that exist in other parts of the world, such as Spain, Germany and across Europe?