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 916 contributions
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2021
Ivan McKee
There is regular on-going engagement at official level. I have spoken with and written to Gerry Grimstone, the relevant UK Government minister about the issue. We are hopeful there will be movement. There is regular discussion about the issue, as there is on many other areas.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2021
Ivan McKee
I would like to think so, but it will come down to the UK Government reflecting on the situation. There have been issues of this kind, with other bills in which the UK Government has sought to impinge on devolved matters, that have not concluded in the way we would have liked. However, in this case, I am hopeful that the UK Government will recognise the importance of not impinging on devolved areas and will amend the bill accordingly.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2021
Ivan McKee
They will be having their own separate discussions, but our officials are also engaging regularly with the regulators to understand their concerns about the professional issues that I have mentioned and how the bill impinges on devolved matters.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2021
Ivan McKee
I will follow up on that. You are right, convener, that, all else being equal, we are keen to remove barriers to trade where they exist.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2021
Ivan McKee
They will speak for themselves, but I understand that their concerns are largely about the potential downgrading of standards in pursuit of international trade deals—clearly, that is something to be concerned about—and the UK Government being in a position to make changes that the regulators are not comfortable with.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2021
Ivan McKee
The 2020 act gives the UK Government the ability to impinge on devolved areas, which is something that we are deeply unhappy about. As we know, power devolved is power retained, so the UK Government can effectively do as it wishes in that regard. The internal market legislation allows the UK Government to do that, but that does not mean that that is a wise thing to do, or that it is in the interests of Scotland for it to do so.