Scottish Enterprise attend Inward Programme

3rd February 2011

Twelve delegates from Scottish Enterprise attended an Inward Programme day hosted at the Scottish Parliament by the Scottish Parliament and Business Exchange.  The delegates included a number of senior figures from Scottish Enterprise, including: Anne McColl, Chief Executive SDI; Paul Lewis Managing Director Operations, Sectors & Commercialisation and Douglas Colquhoun Finance Director.  The programme started with a welcome from Alasdair Morgan MSP, in his role as a Deputy Presiding Officer for the Parliament.  Mr Morgan spoke about the role the SPBE plays in helping businesses and parliament to gain greater understanding of one another, and discussed the role of a Deputy Presiding Officer and provided an insight into the workings of the Chamber.

This was then followed by a presentation by Stephen Imrie, Clerk to the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee.  Mr Imrie spoke about: what the Parliament does and what powers it has, who's who in the Government and Parliament, recent subjects

from a business perspective that the Scottish Parliament and Committees have been, and how does business engage with the Scottish Parliament.  He then went on to discuss the role of enterprise agencies, how the presence of a minority Government

has changed the nature of committees, and how evidence is delivered to committees.

This was followed by a presentation by Joe Brown, Head of Better Regulation and industry Engagement from the Scottish Government.  He spoke about how Parliament and Business work together, as well as discussing the challenges of balancing regulation with engaging with businesses. The delegates then visited the main debating chamber in the Parliament to observe First Minister’s Questions.

Following lunch there were two sessions in the afternoon.  Firstly, Iain Smith MSP spoke in his role as the Convenor of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee.  Mr Smith spoke about the Committee’s involvement in the Climate Change Act,

and the Banking Inquiry.  He then went on to discuss some of the legacy issues for the Committee, and how to maintain and improve the visibility of the Committee. 

Mr Smith was followed by Derek Brownlee MSP spoke about the role and responsibilities of being a Member of the Scottish Parliament.  Mr Brownlee spoke about the challenges of being a MSP, and the different perspectives of list and constituency MSPs, before speaking about wider issues to do with Parliament

and the economy.  The programme concluded with a Question and Answer session with Arthur McIvor, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Parliament and Business Exchange.

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