Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Official Report 326KB pdf

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Interests

Agenda item 1 is the declaration of interests. In accordance with section 3 of the code of conduct for members of the Scottish Parliament, it is my duty to invite members to declare any interests that are relevant to the committee’s remit. I remind members that any declaration should be brief but sufficiently detailed to make clear to any listener the nature of the interest.

I have declared interests of shareholdings in two manufacturing companies—an electronics company and a sheet-metal manufacturing company—and in one software company. The shareholdings in the manufacturing companies are minimal shareholdings as a consequence of what I did as a company troubleshooter.

I am a member of Unite the Union, the National Trust for Scotland, Historic Scotland, RSPB Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Those organisations are relevant to the committee’s remit of economy, energy and tourism because many of them are vocal about how we should move the economy forward, particularly through energy and tourism.

I am remunerated as a director of and shareholder in a training company that I set up in 2002 and I am retained on the Law Society of Scotland’s roll of solicitors, although I have not practised law since 2002 and have no current plans to do so. Indeed, I am not sure that the society would even have me back.

I am a member of Unison and also received a campaign donation from the Fire Brigades Union. I do not think that the donation is registrable but, given that I have put it down as a voluntary registration, it is probably worth mentioning.

I do not think that any items in the main part of my entry in the register of members’ interests are relevant to the committee’s remit but, with regard to voluntary registrations, I draw members’ attention to my membership of organisations that might want to give us evidence on economy or energy matters, including Friends of the Earth Scotland, Greenpeace, the Oxfam humankind index steering group and the Poverty Alliance. I, too, received a donation from the FBU to my election campaign which, although not in the register, will be declared through the Electoral Commission.

I am also an unpaid director of Gala Scotland Ltd, which runs the Glasgay arts festival and receives a small amount of money from budgets relating to tourism.

I am a director of and major shareholder in a property development company. My voluntary activities include board membership of West Highland Housing Association and being a volunteer fireman for Strathclyde Fire and Rescue.

I am an elected member of Glasgow City Council and a member of Unite and the Co-operative Party. I think that that is all I need to declare.

I have no relevant interests to declare.

I have nothing to declare apart from the fact that, until 21 June, I remain a member of Falkirk Council’s economic strategy and development committee and the SNP’s economic spokesperson on the council.

I should also have mentioned that I was a member of the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition. However, that membership has lapsed. Likewise, my shareholdings are in the process of being liquidated.