14.10.2016
A Holyrood Committee is urging Scottish businesses and workers based throughout the country to help shape the economic impact of leaving the European Union, by sharing their views and concerns.
The Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee’s call for views comes as it investigates the impact of the decision to leave the EU on exports, inward investment, and labour and employment rights.
The Committee will also examine ways to mitigate the immediate impact and seize any opportunities.
Convener of the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee, Gordon Lindhurst MSP said: “We want to meet with Scottish businesses and workers based across the country, and hear and understand their hopes and concerns.
"he Committee will take these views and work to influence the negotiations between the governments of the UK and Scotland and the European Union in the years to come.”
Mr Lindhurst continued: “We want to hear opinions on fundamental and important issues, such as: Where are the growth markets outside the EU for Scottish business, and what are the barriers to growing exports in these developing markets? What impact will restrictions on the free movement of labour have on sectors employing the highest number of non-UK EU nationals? And if you are a non-UK EU national, why do you choose to live and work in Scotland?
“These are all vital questions, and it’s crucial that the valuable knowledge, experience and expertise of Scotland’s businesses and workers contribute to our work where possible. Scotland has always been an outward looking country that has had much to give the rest of the world.
The Committee wants to engage with businesses and workers based in Scotland to understand what they need to maximise the opportunities to go out and sell brand Scotland, while minimising the potential effects that leaving the EU could bring. We look forward to hearing their views.”
The Committee’s recommendations on the economic impact of leaving the EU will be published in letters to the UK and Scottish Government in early 2017.
Background
The Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee scrutinises a broad range of topics within the remit of the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work including energy policy, the impact of the UK vote to leave the EU, fair work and matters relating to the Scottish economy. It comes to a view after taking evidence from, and engaging with, a wide range of stakeholders ‘on the frontline’ and applies authoritive, expert, effective and influential scrutiny to policy.
Photographs of the Committee and Convener are available free of charge.
This November the Committee is scrutinising the economic impact of leaving the European Union with visits to relevant businesses. They will also hear views and opinions from a range of organisations and individuals at formal committee meetings.
The Committee will look at any relevant written evidence on these issues already sent to the Culture, Tourism and Europe and External Relations Committee. The Committee would welcome input from others, preferably by 21 November.
The Committee would be interested to hear views from individuals and organisations on:
Exports
- What are the potential impacts on Scotland’s ‘growth sectors’ of leaving the EU
- How do businesses go about identifying and developing new markets, and what public support do they receive
- Where are the growth markets outside the EU for Scottish business
- What are the barriers to growing exports in these developing markets;
Inward investment
- What are the biggest sources of foreign investment and what are likely to be the biggest sources of foreign investment in the coming years
- What are the biggest foreign investment opportunities in Scotland
- The views of existing foreign investors on the impacts of Brexit
- How important access to the single market was in the decision to invest in Scotland
- What tools does Scotland have to encourage foreign investment and could they be enhanced post-Brexit.
Employment issues
- Which sectors and regions employ the highest number of non-UK EU nationals
- What the impact of restrictions on the free movement of labour will have on these sectors and industries
- Why non-UK EU nationals chose to live and work in Scotland
- Whether UK employment law will be impacted by Brexit.