Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, June 29, 2017

Official Report 515KB pdf

Scottish Government Reports

Our next item of business is consideration of a number of biannual reports produced by the Scottish Government on EU issues. Members have copies among their papers. Are there any comments on the reports?

I remain concerned about the European structural funds programmes. I have looked at Keith Brown’s letter to you of 13 June addressing that issue, and I think that it would be helpful, given that a substantial part of the funds allocated for the current funding programme has still not been committed, to invite Mr Brown to give evidence in the autumn. That might encourage early progress between now and then.

He mentions in his letter

“evidence of lower levels of absorption, particularly in the Highlands and Islands”.

We need to find out more about that if we can.

Yes, we do. If no other members have comments, the proposal is to invite Keith Brown to the committee to speak to that report. Is that agreed?

Members indicated agreement.