Skip to main content

Language: English / Gàidhlig

Loading…

Seòmar agus comataidhean

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

Criathragan Hide all filters

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 24 November 2024
Select which types of business to include


Select level of detail in results

Displaying 665 contributions

|

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Petroineos Grangemouth

Meeting date: 20 November 2024

Colin Smyth

That would certainly be useful. Do you think that the company is not serious about agreeing to a sale? Why is it closing the refinery if the unions believe that it should and could be profitable?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Petroineos Grangemouth

Meeting date: 20 November 2024

Colin Smyth

Robert, do you want to add anything?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Petroineos Grangemouth

Meeting date: 20 November 2024

Colin Smyth

That brings us to the end of our evidence session. I echo Kevin Stewart’s comment that it would be helpful if Unite could share its plan with the committee. You also mentioned some other documents. It would have been helpful to have those before last week’s meeting. If you can share them with the committee, that would be helpful. I can assure you that this subject is important to the committee and is one that we are likely to return to.

I thank the witnesses for joining us and hope that they have less of an ordeal getting home.

The committee will now move into private session.

11:18 Meeting continued in private until 12:01.  

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Petroineos Grangemouth

Meeting date: 20 November 2024

Colin Smyth

What about the Unite members who are on site at the moment?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Consumer Scotland

Meeting date: 13 November 2024

Colin Smyth

Our next item of business is an evidence session with Consumer Scotland on its activities and performance. I welcome our panel of witnesses.

Consumer Scotland is the statutory independent body for consumers in Scotland, covering the public, private and third sectors. It is a non-ministerial office, established under the Consumer Scotland Act 2020, and it is directly accountable to the Parliament. Responsibility for scrutiny of Consumer Scotland therefore falls primarily within the committee’s remit.

I welcome David Wilson, the chair of Consumer Scotland; Sam Ghibaldan, the chief executive; and Sue Bomphray, director of operations and partnership. I will make the same appeal that Claire Baker always made, which is for members and witnesses to keep their questions and answers as concise as they possibly can. I invite David Wilson to make a short opening statement.

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Consumer Scotland

Meeting date: 13 November 2024

Colin Smyth

Thank you, Mr Wilson. There will certainly be a lot of questions on some of the issues that you have raised.

I will begin by picking up on one of the subjects that you mentioned in your opening comments and one of the pieces of work that you have done, which is on postal services. The committee took evidence on concerns about the future of universal postal services, and I appreciate that Consumer Scotland has carried out some work on that. Can you tell me a little bit about that work and, specifically, what feedback you received from small businesses about the importance of those universal services? Was it different from feedback from other consumers?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Petroineos Grangemouth

Meeting date: 13 November 2024

Colin Smyth

You referred to the 400 direct jobs. What is your estimate of the supply chain jobs that will also be lost as a result of the decision?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Consumer Scotland

Meeting date: 13 November 2024

Colin Smyth

I call Gordon MacDonald.

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Petroineos Grangemouth

Meeting date: 13 November 2024

Colin Smyth

I am sure that you have more questions. I will bring in Daniel Johnson next.

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Petroineos Grangemouth

Meeting date: 13 November 2024

Colin Smyth

Our next item of business is a follow-up evidence session with Petroineos following the announcement that refinery operations will cease at Grangemouth from next year. In November last year, it was reported that the refinery would transition to a finished fuels import terminal and distribution hub. In September, it was confirmed that the transition would take place during the second quarter of 2025. As part of the committee’s inquiry into a just transition for the Grangemouth area, we visited the Ineos site. However, at that time, we were not made aware of the intentions for the refinery.

Following the announcement, we took evidence from Petroineos, Ineos and both the United Kingdom and Scottish Governments. Today’s meeting is an opportunity for the committee to discuss developments since then. I welcome Iain Hardie, head of legal and external affairs for Petroineos Manufacturing Scotland Ltd; and Colin Pritchard, sustainability and external relations director for Ineos Olefins & Polymers UK. I invite Iain Hardie to make a short opening statement.