Official Report 495KB pdf
We will also keep an eye on the youth employment initiative.
On the first item that is noted in the paper—the structural and investment funds—members will recall the youth employment initiative and see the item relating to that on page 5 of the paper.
I hope that that will make an impact in the south-west of Scotland and Ayrshire, which I represent, and that we will be able to keep a close eye on developments there if it is appropriate for that to come to the committee. Members were interested in what the work might entail. I would be interested in exactly what happens from a European perspective to tackle youth unemployment in my constituency. I would appreciate any update on progress on that work, if that can be brought to the committee.
Yes. Our autumn schedule is already shaping up to be busy.
Yes, of course.
I agree entirely with Willie Coffey on that. Employers and third sector organisations often talk about the bureaucracy that can be involved in most European initiatives. Fife Council has a youth contract scheme. Employers say that one of the strengths of that scheme is its lack of bureaucracy, which allows them to get on with it. As I understand it, many employers are put off by what is involved in some of the schemes, so it would be good to get a better understanding of how the youth employment initiative operates, what it means and what bureaucracy is attached to it.
Alex Rowley’s point about bureaucracy was very well made. One of the aspects of horizon 2020, especially at the conference that we held, was about streamlining that bureaucracy. It would be really good to get some proper feedback on whether the aims of reducing the bureaucracy around horizon 2020 have been met.
I agree. I used to run a European social funded project many years ago. That was before computers, so everything was done on paperwork.
We have leaned on the wise counsel of Fife Enterprise in the past. Helen Eadie was a great champion of that body, which was always good at consulting the committee and providing it with great resolutions to problems. We should follow that up, too.
Okay. Are members happy to note all those reports, share them and follow up as suggested, and to forward them to the relevant subject committees for their perusal?
Members indicated agreement.
On foreign language learning in primary schools, the recommendation in paragraph 11 says:
“The Committee may also wish to suggest to the Scottish Government that all further updates are sent directly to the Education and Culture Committee rather than”
to us.
Because we spent so much time on our inquiry into that and because foreign languages are important to the committee, we should still get an update on what is happening rather than send it to another committee. We did a lot on—what was it called?—the Barcelona—
Yes, the one-plus-two model. You are absolutely right; we did.
That needs watching, because we do not know whether it is working. It was an experimental model and the committee should keep an eye on it.
Our colleague Clare Adamson is the Europe rapporteur to the Education and Culture Committee. We can ask her what that committee is doing with the matter and see where we go from there.
I am happy to do that.
It was a bit of an anomaly that the matter came to this committee, even though it concerns European languages, because it sits very much within education delivery in schools. I am sure that we can ensure that the committee is kept fully up to date on progress.
That is a sensible suggestion. We should follow it. Jamie McGrigor is right that it is basically our baby and we want to keep an eye on its growing up.
I thought so.
I think that we should do that as well.
There are a number of recommendations on pages 1 and 2. Do members have any comments on them? They are basically about the committee considering whether to follow up the reports.
Horizon 2020 is another matter that we have kept a close eye on. On EU structural and investment funds, Willie Coffey has recommended that we take a detailed look at broadband and get some information on it. Are members content to keep an eye on that and keep the focus that we have had on how the funding streams are operating and their success?
Members indicated agreement.
It would be the same for horizon 2020. We would be keen to have regular updates on how that is operating, given that it is new and has the link with small business that Jamie McGrigor is keen on. We will also keep an eye on foreign languages and primary schools. The last section is about the transposition of EU directives.
Agenda item 2 is our reports from the Scottish Government, which form another detailed and hefty document. There are reports from a number of cabinet secretaries on European Union structural funds, horizon 2020, foreign language learning in primary schools and the transposition of EU directives. Are there any comments, questions or clarifications?
Is this the “Brussels Bulletin”?
No. It is the reports from the Scottish Government.
Yes—sorry.
Paper 2 briefs members on the reports.
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“Brussels Bulletin”