Official Report 347KB pdf
As agreed at a previous meeting, we keep a watching brief on issues relating to the economy and the banking crisis. As members will probably be aware, two House of Commons select committees have been considering the issue. The Treasury Select Committee has been conducting an inquiry into the banking crisis. That inquiry will recommence in January. The Scottish Affairs Committee is this week taking evidence on the economy.
As well as inviting witnesses from the trade organisations, we could invite people who run businesses.
I assumed that the trade organisations would include members who run businesses.
Yes, but the organisations might send only the policy officer to the hearing. That would of course be helpful, but we should also have one or two people who run businesses to complement that.
It depends on how big we think the panel should be and how we select the business people. We could suggest to the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland and Scottish Chambers of Commerce that they bring at least one businessman with them and not just a policy officer.
It is important that we hear from the relevant people. However, if we are having a single-focus hearing, it is important that we do not have a plethora of witnesses. We should try to restrict the numbers to the suggestion in the briefing paper.
Are members content with the proposal to have a hearing?
Members indicated agreement.
Thank you. That concludes our final meeting of this year. I wish you all a merry Christmas. We will see you at the next formal meeting on 14 January. Obviously, we have two visits to make before then.
Meeting closed at 12:57.
Previous
National Planning Framework