21/05/2017 Scottish Parliament

The next item of business is a debate on partnership action from

continuing employment known to all and sundry and to us as Pace. Press

your request to speak buttons now. There is time in hand. Interventions

are actually invited. Whether the House wants them or not. I called

the Minister to speak and to move the motion. It says here 14 minutes,

you can make it longer if you wish. I will do my best to oblige and

happy to take interventions to help with the passage of time.

The initiative to respond to redundancy initiatives is one of our

most effective interventions. It is a unique service to Scotland. Pace

is largely raw profile -- low profile in terms of the

consciousness of the people is gone. We want to raise awareness of it for

individuals who face redundancy. So that there are four that the

opportunity to praise the efforts of the Pay spammers themselves. -- Mac

pace. We're also looking at increasing the

range of marketing materials to ensure a balanced approach between

digital, social media targeted medications and hard copy and print

to improve general awareness of Pace and what it can provide. Sadly,

regardless of economic context and do the nature of market changes and

other factors from time to time, new businesses are born, existing

businesses grow but the converse is also true is businesses end up in

difficulties or cease trading. It is difficult to be inventive about the

numbers affected by redundancy because figures are based on

estimates. But what can be cleared on is that from April 2016 until

March 2017. Pace has supported thousands of individuals and 299

pliers. But we do know that while some forms tell us where redundancy

occurs four ten or more employees, this is not capture the full-scale.

Pace can be provided in a number of ways, from providing information to

the more intensive programme field support, including one-to-one advice

on careers guidance, interview skills, CV preparation, workshops

and benefits. From April 2016 until March 20 6500 individuals received

intensive support. This is key because as we know individuals

benefit greatly from this intensive support. We are keen to extend the

reach of Pace, particularly covering those not covered by the HR one

process. Small businesses that might be laying off 12 workers to make

sure they know of the support to them. -- one or two workers. I will

give way. I very much welcome what the

Minister is saying. I wonder if he will agree that one of the great

strengths of Pace is that it draws in all of us of all political

representations to the room. I know that I have sat with Lewis

Macdonald, for example, in the Pace meetings. It enables us to bring our

individual contributions, can -- contacts and knowledge. But by

involving UK departments like the Department for the, it draws the net

as wide as possible. One of the great strengths that Pace has, well

the debate might identify -- is the fact that it can be fine tuned

through our debate. Thank you for that. I want to put on record that

there has been a hugely positive contribution from members across the

chamber when situations have arisen where jobs are risk redundancies are

faced. Many members come to this place have a lot of accent in the

trade union movement or as employments, or having been in the

workplace in positions of management. Bringing expertise and

local knowledge and context to build to help the Pace partners deliver

better service. I welcome his comments. I want to thank him and

other members. We know of high-profile examples such as the

working response to loss of skilled jobs in Lanarkshire, which was

hugely successful, not least because of the widespread nonparty political

approach that was taken by members across the chamber to support the

efforts. But we are very keen to ensure we extend the reach of Pace

to support as many people as possible and deepen engagement with

those accessing support to make sure they get maximum benefit. And 23rd

of June 2009, we established the Pace partnership which brought 21

organisations together with the Scottish Government to see a

continuous improvement programme to enhance the operation of Pace. As

part of that, we published research last year which indicated that of

those surveyed who had received Pace support, almost three quarters, 71%,

had attained employment. That is encouraging. This clearly reflects a

number of things, including improvement in the labour market

since 2010. Which we should acknowledge. But also the ongoing

refinement of the support provided by Pace to ensure it is working

effectively. It is important to emphasise the message to employees

and employers that the earlier that Pace support can be provided, the

more effective the support will ultimately be. Research also shows

that most clients are highly satisfied with the package of

support the Pace services delivering. For the majority of

people using the Pace service, satisfaction rates are 80%. There is

a slightly lower satisfaction rate for other areas of the package. We

commissioned a study into this and this qualitative research has

produced some insights, particularly when looking at the issues over 50s

might face in the labour market. And the need to tailor support better

for those who need intensive support in interview and CV preparation,

perhaps. A syllable. Would that also include tailoring

support for people with additional support needs? For example, like

dyslexia. It is a very important point. We should not take for

granted that particularly older workers are going through the

education system have had people fail to recognise the needs and did

not address the needs that they had at the time. Going into work

successfully, but when trying to face the transition into nuclear,

perhaps they are required to short skills like digital skills are other

factors, they may need additional support. I take that point on board

and will raise that is an action for the next evaluation meeting. There

was much did I jest from the research. -- to digest. I will pick

up that point just may to CV can make it easier for those who find it

particularly difficult to re-enter the labour market. Those who don't

have a formal qualifications or lack confidence in going forward with the

job market. Pace is available for every individual affected by

redundancy, no matter the size of the business of the number of

employees involved. I want to reinforce that because it is not

well understood. We tend to dock about Pace in the context of large

employers and high-profile employers. We sometimes forget that

on a case-by-case basis, small and medium-sized enterprises are hugely

important to the individuals involved and should be aware that

the same level of support as we will -- is available. In conjunction with

key partners, like the Department for Work and Pensions and local

authorities, there are 18 local Pace teams across Scotland who ensure

speedy responses to redundancy situations. Well information is an

issue to those affected where possible, each response is tailored

to meet needs of every individual engages with Pace. In some cases,

they will be a planned element to support involved. That is because

some people have found that some support is not relevant to them. We

have some people in the gas industry, initial contact might

establish that the content is not relevant. But on a case-by-case

basis, the content will be tailored to the needs to make sure they have

the best chance to gain gainful employment. I certainly will. Pace

encompasses a partnership of 22 organisations, which I think is a

strength because these organisations can bring many different areas of

expertise to the table. Is the composition of Pace reviewed on a

regular basis so that if there are, for example, issues with the oil or

gas sector, different sectors, you can bring in people with appropriate

experience? That is certainly the case. The membership of the group is

evaluated. We oldies keep an eye at for organisations that might value

to the process. We have the ability to bring in experts to speak to us

and engage with the Pace partnership group to perhaps give a briefing on

a particular subject that is important to all partners. We have

the services of the chief economic adviser to give us DeGale breakdowns

of analysis of issues such as those affecting the oil and gas issue...

Industry. -- al and gas industry. As I say, it is important to

emphasise it is a tale of programme of support to individuals. There are

really good examples of work taken forward in a very sophisticated way

to respond to individual situations. For example, in January this year,

some members could be aware of the Kwik-Fit rate Dummett insurance

services, closing the audience and office where a number of employees

were based. This is bad news for the local community. But as a

conscientious employer, and I want to praise the Company for this, they

wish to do the best two help employees find on what employment in

the local area and work of the Scottish Government and agencies to

this end. We set up a working group to provide support, which included

Scottish Government agencies, through the Pace initiative. We then

divide more than 2000 vacant roles within the locality of the site

which were available to employees through jobs fairs. Staff worked

with the placement agency to deliver tailored programme of support,

including 13 Pace preparations, workshops and CV preparation, and

more than 100 career planning workshops. A good number of

employees to cop on this -- took up this offer. Over two thirds of the

employees received successful outcomes before the site had even

closed. Pace support continues to be available for anyone with any

fore-mac Wycliffe insurance team who might still require assistance and

for other general situations that arise. Once the factory closes,

there is still support available. It is inevitable that some businesses

face severe financial difficulties. This can result in Pace not having

to to support the boys prior to notification of insolvency. The

insolvency profession in Scotland plays and a portable in the country,

saving 22,000 jobs a year. The Institute for chartered accountants

works with insolvency professionals to achieve a positive outcome in

difficult situations. The strong working Russian ship between pace

and other agencies... Collectively, this ensures employers

and employees have access to assistance at an appropriate time.

This access to assistance is key in an amazing the effects and risks of

redundancy, which can have a detrimental impact on individuals,

family life and the wider Scottish economy. I would like to turn to the

economic outlook in the climate in which Pace is operating today. The

Scottish economy has remained resilient this year, despite the

challenges to the oil and gas sector. Despite... With the

uncertainty behind Brexit, consumer confidence has fallen, as we have

seen in the UK as well. Scotland's Lee -- labour market has continued

to show resilience. Latest data shows that the unemployment rate has

fallen to 4.4%. Scotland continues to outperform the UK both female and

youth unemployment rates. I am aware of the economic inactivity figures,

which are less positive. What with employment 40,000 higher in Scotland

than one year ago, that is a positive outcome. And a 0.2%

contraction in the Scottish economy in the final quarter of 2016 stems

from the continued slowdown in the oil and gas sector and the impact

this has wider supply chain. We do know that the headwinds affecting

the Scottish economy can add varying impacts across Scotland's regions.

The recent labour market data has shown decreases in climate in

Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and the Highlands. This is driven by the

falling oil price, affecting the oil and gas industry and its supply

chain. There are however encouraging signs the situation is improving for

North Sea oil operators. We will work to restore the supply chain and

the incident to make sure it can gain from future opportunities. The

oil and gas industry remains of vital importance to the economy in

Scotland in the UK. It supports thousands of jobs across the UK,

with 124,500 in Scotland alone. It has contributed a lengthy and and 33

billion to the Exchequer since records began. -- 333 billion.

Examples of the headwind impacts on local authorities are those such as

South Lanarkshire, Fife, Edinburgh and Glasgow, all affected by a

disturbance inactivity in the manufacturing sector. And local

authorities such as North latter have been affected by tightening

budget constraints in the sector. The labour market is called a strong

and resilient. Latest figures show that in employment in Scotland is

lower than the UK as a whole and since last year, employment in

Scotland has on by 40 8000. -- prison. -- risen by 40,000.

We do, through this service and others, which may not be immediately

obvious, support individuals receiving redundancy payments to

start a new business and tailor support through Scottish enterprise

to make that happen. And business Gateway services at a local level as

well. I will indeed. The Minister referred to people

getting relatively substantial redundancy payments. I am not aware

that Pace has previously done this, but would he consider whether in

particular circumstances people who received such payments are in a

position to receive advice as to what might be the best way they can

get the best bang for their buck from such payments and in particular

speaking for older people how they might use that as part as

preparation for retirement? It might be financially affected by the fact

they have been paid off at a point in their career when there will be

limited opportunities for them to replace the job and further

development of pensions. It strikes me that the whole issue of pathos

and that perhaps in the oil and gas industry in the north-east we have

seen people take the money and drop out of the system when it may be in

the long-term interest to receive good advice, perhaps take a slightly

different approach. That is a fair point. Certainly, there will be a

range of circumstances affecting individuals facing redundancy, some

closer to retirement. Some may be potentially in receipt of

significant funds. I am aware there is some support but I will try to

provide written information to all members as to what is already

available and take on point the -- on board the point he makes. The

economic outlook remains positive. We believe that the main risk and I

appreciate this may not be something all members of the Chamber agree

about, the main risk continues to be the prospect of a hard Brexit. There

is concern that 45% of European companies looking to replace UK

supplies with EU suppliers. We hope it does not come to pass. The

important point is that it is important to recognise and to

reinforce the message in the Chamber that Scotland is open for business.

There are two examples I want to site to give a more positive

message. We have seen ?11.1 million investment in East Kilbride in

subsidy development centre by a German company. 300 jobs in Glasgow

through investment. There is continued investment into the UK and

Scotland and it is positive. Change is now inevitable. The

constitutional future, the Scottish Government is tackling inequality

and it will be at the heart of our efforts. We have been undertaking an

enterprise and schools review and the benefits we envisage our

simplification of the landscape, improvement in collaborative working

and skills support, all of which will contribute ultimately to our

already pattern of collaborative working that Pace has established

with its partners. The business support policies will focus on

ensuring businesses can grow and thrive. The Labour Amendment,

working to help companies avoid situations where there is a risk of

redundancies. We need engagement in terms of the Conservative amendment

with ministers on the industrial strategy. Positive discussions with

Greg Clark in recent times on that. We will be supporting Labour and

Conservative and moments today in this debate. Our enterprise

agencies, Pace partners alleviate difficulties. They operate on a

confidential referral basis. I can keep talking if you wish. I am

conscious... Let me check if we are all awake. Yes, keep talking. If it

is of help, I will continue. The challenge is to encourage business

to engage early enough because that is -- before they become

insurmountable. The grants and a wide-ranging support options for

businesses including mentoring. We can also offer invaluable support,

exploring a range of opportunities available. Our support is actively

maintained through difficult periods for retaining jobs and operations in

Scotland. Regrettably, in some cases, it is not possible despite

our best efforts of local authorities and trade unions, there

is no viable future that can be found. Our focus then shifts to

ensure effective workforce is given support it needs and deserves to

mitigate the economic impact on the area. In cases where there is a

business failure, that the decision to close part of a business, the

Pace response is usually sufficient. Occasionally we require the

intervention of national government. There can be value in us intervening

directly and we have established task forces which have been very

bipartisan in nature and positive in their progress. The task forces, and

I will discuss a number in my closing speech, bring together

national and local politicians, public sector agencies, and others,

responding to challenges and finding positive outcomes in difficult

circumstances. We are bringing people together to mitigate the

direct and indirect impacts and make connections that otherwise might not

be made, considering every potential source of support and every solution

can be delivered. I have seen first-hand the excellent work done

in many task forces, we were set up to mitigate the impact of the

closure of the papermakers in Fife and the decommissioning of the power

station. The success of the task forces have achieved positive

outcomes for 83% of Pace clients in one case. We are committed to

creating a culture of the work and this is supported by measures such

as this. I will ask you to start closing. I want to give other people

they bite of the cherry. I have done my job. I believe Pace is an

excellent project. I would like to thank our partners for their support

and efforts. Being clued agencies providing skills and retraining and

upscaling and they also include organisations providing support to

spread the message of Pace to members. -- there are many agencies

providing skills. I would be grateful to hear the thoughts in

this debate on how we can build on the success of Pace and make it even

more successful for those affected. Thank you. Please move the motion. I

move the motion. I have 20 minutes. Do not panic, you will get your

time. A liberal nine minutes. Thank you. I suspect it will be a

conservative nine minutes, not a liberal nine minutes. Let me

congratulate him in extending his opening speech. I hope he has not

exhausted too much of his closing speech and I look forward to his

closing remarks. This is a welcome opportunity to debate the work of

the partnership action for continuing employment or Pace as we

know it. It is a timely opportunity to consider the work of Pace in

responding to redundancies, how it functions and most importantly, the

challenges it will face in the future. We will be supporting the

Government's motion this evening. We will also be supporting the Labour

amendment. Our amendment to the motion today seeks to do two things.

It highlights the need for policy and government agencies including

Pace to anticipate and plan for the rapidly increasing changes impacting

many sectors. Changes driven by new technologies, automation and other

developments. It could enlarge result large-scale redundancies if

we do not plan for them as policymakers. Our amendment

encourages the Scottish gunmen to follow the advice of leading

organisations to cooperate with the industrial strategy to ensure

sectors and businesses across Scotland are fully prepared to meet

the challenges. Before looking at some of the future challenges we

have to face, I want to highlight the valuable work undertaken by Pace

as a national strategic partnership framework, it coordinates responses

from 22 different organisations across Scotland and the UK as a

whole. Skills development Scotland delivers Pace in conjunction with

the partner organisations. There is a national team in Glasgow supported

by local teams across Scotland. Every year, Pace supports thousands

across Scotland in a very challenging time in their lives.

They are facing the prospect of redundancy and the loss of their

livelihood. To deal with the different needs of individuals in

these very difficult circumstances, Pace provides a number of tailored

services including one to one counselling, access to high-quality

training, seminars on starting business and an increasing number of

people affected by redundancy are choosing to open their own business.

That is something I think we should encourage. Pace gives access to IT

facilities and helps people to prepare business plans if they are

looking to start their own business. Historically Pace has been targeted

at large-scale redundancies. Improvements in its service offering

mean it can help more individuals and smaller companies in rule areas

as well as larger companies in urban areas and that is very much to be

welcomed. It undertakes regular surveys to get a sense of what is

working and what can be improved and the most recent survey last year

pointed to a number of positive outcomes. Three quarters of clients

were satisfied with their interaction with Pace, employment

outcomes are generally positive, 71% of clients had secured work after

assistance from Pace. Of those that had secured... Inevitably, Mr

Stevenson. Presiding Officer, I wonder if the member would agree

with me that it can also be useful to have the employer in the room who

may be paying off? I say that in particular because where we had a

major payoff in Fraser Brown, we were fortunate to have the company

in the room and one of the direct effects of that, hearing the ideas

of people around the table, it was the company modified its plans and

also the trade unions seemed to have gained an opportunity to better

interact in a safe space with the employer. And they came up with

something that mitigated the worst effects. I think the clients are not

simply sometimes those who are affected through the employment, but

also sometimes the companies and we should not fail to recognise that

there is always a benefit of having a safe space for people and

companies and communities and trade unions affected by what is planned,

all being in the room, working through solutions that may be better

than the initial prognosis might have been. Thank you, I think Mr

Stevenson makes a good point and we will come onto this a bit later. It

also feeds back into the need perhaps for Pace and the enterprise

agencies to get involved in discussions earlier and perhaps have

a more proactive response and not just wait for difficult situations

to arise, but to address some of the problems earlier in the process that

may ultimately end in Pace being involved. 71% of clients secure work

after assistance from Pace and of those that secure work, the majority

find work with at least the same or high levels of skills or

responsibility. A sizeable proportion, a third, are only able

to secure work with the lower level of skills and a proportion of

clients who have secured work end up with work with a lower pay,

lower-level, about 60% of workers who have been helped by Pace. In the

difficult context of redundancy, these are positive results, I think.

I commend the hard work of everyone involved in Pace partnerships. There

is always more to be done and a number of recommendations were made

as a result of the survey findings are an inch on. These

recommendations include the need for Pace to enter earlier in the

process. -- as a result of the survey findings I mentioned. Other

options such as starting a new business, it is important vulnerable

workers get help as soon as possible to explore all options. There is the

need for more tailored support, as the minister mentioned, for older

workers, 55 and over. The post-redundancy outcomes for this

age group is typically poorer. This might be, and someone mentioned

this, because workers of that age, if they are made redundant, they

either stop there on business or perhaps leave the workforce

altogether and that might be something behind the increasing

levels of inactivity -- they either start their own business. These

workers would not forward in the statistics. Finally, another

recommendation, the further need to promote the services and the reach

of Pace so that support is available to everyone who needs it, no matter

the size of the business or circumstances of the redundancy.

The Poseidon Officer is clear that Pace pose a constructive role in the

labour market, and we are supportive of the role of Pace and the role it

provides. The motion today reflects the fact

that we, as policymakers, need to plan for the significant changes to

the structure of the economy and working practices going forward

because if am planned for, they could result in significant

redundancies in the economy. These challenges we face were highlighted

in a report issued last week by the Institute for Public Policy

Research, predicting almost half of jobs of Scotland, over 1.2 million

jobs, will be at risk from automation and new technologies in

the next 15 years. This report makes a number of observations and

recommendations, including that workers need more career transition

report and -- support and retraining in their working life, workers are

more likely to have multiple jobs requiring not only one off support

following redundancy but a lifelong platform for career transition

because these workers, by 2030, will have different jobs, and are more

likely to have multiple jobs at the same time with multiple employers

and multiple careers. The IPPR report concludes by saying

that without reform, we can see changes to the economy driven by

automation and technology that would damage employment prospects for a

number of sectors and leave whole communities behind. Elaine Smith?

Thank you, Poseidon officer. In this regard, with the member like to make

comment on the article by Dave Watson of Unison, where he says

unnecessary recording and recording -- at work. Workers are being turned

into robots before they are replaced by them? I tried to work that out

with Pace, but on you go... I haven't read that article, to be

fair but I think that we have all got to recognise that test practice

in the workplace is good management and that's the only way the Scottish

economy will remain competitive across the world. To deal with the

challenges I mentioned, these are large challenges and I do not expect

Pace, in the current form and capacity, to have the answers or did

the live -- or to deliver the solutions but as a multi-agency

partnership including trade unions and various industry bodies, we hope

that Pace can play an active role in helping to formulate policies and

strategies to anticipate significant changes in the economy and

workforce. While these changes are driven by automation and new

technologies, no doubt they represent a significant challenge

but also opportunities. If we can get the honours in response right we

can capitalise on new technologies like fin tech for the benefit of the

Yukon me and creation of new jobs. That is why the amendment calls for

the Scottish Government -- economy. Will actively participate in the UK

industrial strategy. As part of this, the UK Government has

announced they will invest ?4.7 billion to be used across the UK in

science, research, innovation and in areas like artificial intelligence,

five G wireless and robotics. Significant investment in these

sectors will help the economy capitalize on worst-case scenario of

white -- widespread redundancies. Given the struggling performance of

the economy in Scotland we need a coherent industrial strategy for the

UK which must be fully supported by the UK and Scottish governments.

Deputy Presiding Officer, to conclude, we are very supportive of

the range of work undertaken by Pace and be supported provides in

redundancy and related situations, but we must look forward and start

to plan for significant changes that will impact the structure of the

economy and the nature of work in future. To do so, we ask the

Scottish Government to proactively engage with the UK Government's

forward-looking industrial strategy and take advantage of trading

opportunities we have with the rest of the UK which represents over two

thirds of our trade. I move the amendment in my name. ' I apologise

to Ms Smith, you are quite right, I see in the amendment from the

Conservatives in your intervention, I call Richard Leonard, a Liberal

with a small L. Deputy preserving officer, what we are debating here

this afternoon is a consequence of what happens when there is market

failure -- Presiding Officer. Or a shift in the market. It is what

happens sometimes when there is a falling rate of profit. What happens

when there is a corporate demand to boost share values, or to inflate

dividend payments? What happens sometimes when there is a strike? A

strike of capital? And a company decides to move work offshore? What

happens when redundancies are proposed? Throughout my working life

I have seen that what happens is all too often typically this. Workers,

women and men, aged 50 or over with 20 or 30 years of working

experience, being tossed aside. Job security, job stability, gone.

Occupational pensions, no more. Too many remain unemployed but

undercounted. Or in part time work when they want a full-time job. Some

may be moved on to a zero hours contract. Precarious employment,

affecting the youngest and the oldest workers the most. In advance

of today's debate, like the minister, I made some enquiries

about what had happened at the Kwik-Fit insurance call centre in

adding stone, where 521 working men and women, who have all lost their

jobs in the last few weeks, have been desperately seeking alternative

work. I asked just yesterday North Lanarkshire Council's economic

development Department to tell me what happened to those working

people. They pointed to the co-operative work involving the

council and the Scottish Government, with the Pace team and Scottish

enterprise. They reported to me that out of the 521 people who have now

lost their jobs, 44 while either on long-term sickness or maternity

leave, I'm not quite sure what support workers on maternity leave,

for example, get in a redundancy situation. I'm hoping that we can

ensure this is properly covered. They tell me that 46 were retiring

or taking time out, and I defer again to Stuart Stevenson's point

that there needs to be on hand, either through the trade union or

channelled through the Pace team, access to people for independent

financial advice for pension reforms of financial benefits that they may

have derived through their employment. 268 it was reported to

me yesterday, had found alternative jobs and often in similar lines of

work to the Kwik-Fit call centre. Jobs at HSBC, Sky, and BT local

solutions were among the destinations where people found

work. But I have to say there was no information available in relation to

those people who found jobs. No information about their rates of

pay, or other terms and conditions of employment. No information about

the kinds of employment contract that they are now on. That is again

something that we need to consider, because in a moment I will say about

the audit work carried out by IFF research which looks at the outcomes

of the Pace process but we need to be more proactive in monitoring

people's destinations once they leave employment and understanding

better the kind of employment that people are going into. That is why,

indeed, I found the latest client experience survey, carried out by

IFF research and published in 2016, is so important. It does give some

insight into people's journeys after they have been through the Pace

programme and the support that Pace offer. The research report provides

us with this profile. Firstly, they established that while 40% of Pace

clients are under the age of 45, one third are aged 45-55, and one

quarter are over the age of 55. Two thirds as it happens, in that year

's report, were men. I am interested to see a that the Scottish

Government has at least identified those older workers especially as a

group who made need additional support through the service that is

provided. But I was struck in the report not only by the profile of

people who had gone through pace that the experience of those people,

having lost their jobs, and some of that, in contrast to Dean Lockhart's

assessment, caused me concern. And I think it provides something this

Parliament responsibly needs to consider because, first of all, the

post-redundancy experience of people was this. 18% went into part-time

work, many of whom had previously been in full-time employment. One

third moved from permanent contracts to short-term contracts. Or worse,

were in a casual job. Again, this was particularly a feature of older

workers who found it hard to move from one permanent job to another.

And were more likely to be caught up in more precarious forms of

employment. Those older workers, the findings of the survey and research,

were those older workers were more than twice as likely to be in casual

employment than those working people who had been made redundant who are

under the age of 45. Something else that struck me about the report, it

goes on to make a comparison between the survey conducted in 2016, and

the comparison will survey conducted in 2014. This afternoon is a time

for consensus, and broad agreement. I think it is important that we

understand what those results show. The conclusions are these. Dean

Lockhart touched on this in his speech earlier on. In 2016, Pace

clients were more likely to have taken jobs with lower skill

requirements than the previous job than in 2014. Now as many as 34%

went into employment, forms of employment, with a lower skill

requirement compared to 29% in 2014. I'm grateful for the intervention,

but we understand that in 2016's survey, we were picking up a lot of

people who were leaving the oil and that industry, and it is true to say

there a phenomenon where people have qualifications that are more

temporary in nature but there are encouraging signs that those in that

position progress on to better employment prospects in due course.

I hope it is an encouragement to some involved. My reading of the

last part of the report, which expressly addressed itself to oil

and gas workers, suggested that those workers with their skills are

more likely to slot into forms of employment that gave them a

comparative application of their skill sets. I take the point, well

made in this chamber before, that levels of enumeration offshore may

not be matched by a equivalent employment onshore for reasons I'm

sure everybody understands. But the report also says, talking about

levels of responsibility, that people moved into employment and did

so, in 2016, 40% of those who went through the Pace programme, 40%

moved into jobs with lower levels of responsibility compared to 32% in

2014. And, in the sense of addressing the point the Minister

makes, if I can quote the report, it does say in paragraph 1.25, that the

proportion of clients who had secured work with the lower level of

pay them the job from which they had been made redundant has increased

since 2014 from 22% to 58%. I am conscious of the time. Let me

say one or two things about Pace as an organisation. Because in

preparation for this afternoon's debate, I checked on the Pace

website earlier on today, and the Minister made the point about the

use of social media and what we can do to use the new forms of

technology, new to me, anyway, to try to help improve the quality of

the service which is on offer. When I looked on the website, I noticed

there was such a thing as a Pace toolkit promoting Pace services and

support and it covers the use of social media and gives advice to

both employees and employers. If I can make a serious note, strike a

serious note, under the heading example tweets, I must make full

disclosure, I am not on Twitter, I never have been, but the tweet

example on the Pace website currently says this, is your

business downsizing is to not check out the Pace partnership and see how

they can help you. We should not be in the business of helping

businesses to downsize, we should be in the business of defending

people's jobs and retaining industry. In fairness, and by way of

balance, when I went to look at the advice under the heading Facebook,

which I do subscribe to, the question was posed in this way which

was much more constructive, the question posed was, is your business

facing redundancy? Pace advisors can provide free and impartial advice on

the best ways of dealing with redundancy from providing options to

retaining staff or managing debt. I'm you can sit down. You will have

to close. You have done well. You are into, I think, 12 minutes. My

final point... It will be brief. My final brief point, let us ban the

awful language of downsizing and have more emphasis on staff

retention. I would like to move the amendment in my name. Thank you. We

still have time in hand and I am going to let you know so that

everyone in the open debate can have seven minutes. Do not be naughty. Do

not go on and on and on. Can I remind members, if you have

intervened, you have to... Mr Stevenson, this is for you. You have

to press your request to speak button again. You have. Good man.

Thank you. Before I start, I would like to comment on Mr Leonard, his

speech. You may find that the brevity and hence the lack of full

explanation on the tweet is a consequence of the 140 character

limit, which does not apply to Facebook posts. Do you really want

to intervened? Yes? It seems to me downsizing is an especially long

word, all the more reason to change the vocabulary. Good intervention. I

take back my comment. New go, please, to the debate. I would like

to remind Parliament of Mike role as Parliamentary liaison officer. -- my

role. Technological change is a feature of our modern economy, it

drives progress and growth, but also causes disconnects in employment

patterns, jobs that were the foundation in past decades no longer

exist. Today's young people will be in jobs we cannot imagine. We need

to manage change and leverage it to our advantage. We need career

flexible T in skills and attitudes, a key component of enabling our

economy and citizens to survive and thrive in this ever-changing

environment. It is also critically important that the Government

supports employees affected by this process of change at the time and

that support is much needed. The process of redundancy is both

painful and stressful for the individuals concerned and the

families. It is a process I myself have been through twice so far in my

career and who knows what the future may hold. In many circumstances of

course, the government is able to step in and turn the situation into

an opportunity for growth. This is the first priority. The Scottish

judgment has been proactive in this regard, several recent examples can

be cited including saving ship loading on the Clyde, the

Lanarkshire steel mills, and the recent deal to save the smelter, a

deal offering huge potential for growth and employment opportunities.

This proactive government intervention is critical. In

situations where rescue and recovery is not possible, government also has

a role to play, a duty to support the individuals concerned with

practical support to smooth the transition to new employment. It is

this regard the Scottish Government's partnership action for

continuing employment or Pace is well placed to deliver, having

demonstrated that value for individuals going through this

difficult process. Pace advisers help people to recognise their

skills, explore options and prepare for the next move. This can also be

highlighted bulimic highlight in -- this can be highlighting skills they

possess. Introductions to employers looking to include or other

individuals in similar situations looking to partner new business

ventures, it can open doors. Change is challenging but it can offer

opportunities and new pathways. A form of support provided by Pace

includes one to one counselling, conference of information packs,

access to high-quality training, seminars and skills such as CV

writing and starting up a business and access to IT facilities. All

designed to provide tailored support and advice to those going through

the process of redundancy. Pace does this through the National Service

and local teams. Raising awareness of the value Pace can bring is

important, both to employers facing difficult decisions and employees

finding themselves going through redundancy. Hopefully, one of the

outcomes today is to make the work of Pace more widely known and

increase participation in its services. We must not forget that

while the practicalities of finding new work all key, the provision of

support around the emotional impact of redundancy provided by Pace is of

huge value to many employees who find themselves in this situation.

The uncertainty about the future that many experience is often a

barrier to positive attitude required to move on and find future

opportunities. Best practice calls for constant review process and

outcomes, driving continuous improvement to develop and enhance

services. The Scottish is focused on ensuring Pace continues to improve

the service it provides. Regular client experience surveys are

carried out and the findings develop the service further. The most recent

survey found 71% of Pace clients have secured work, an increase from

51% recorded in the 2010 survey. Of those who had secured work, almost

two thirds now in roles that have the same or higher levels of skills

and responsibility. The partnership aspect is important bringing

together the Scottish Government, local government and industry

partners. Different inputs to the service. It is important to

recognise the UK context that Pace is unique. No other part of the UK

has a comparable programme to that offered by the Scottish Government.

Many factors affect the labour market, proactive focus on helping

individuals back to work or starting up business on their own, it can

have a marked effect on overall statistics. In this regard

Scotland's performance is worth highlighting. Unemployment has

fallen by 14,000 over the past quarter, 48,000 over the year.

Scotland's unemployment rate is 4.4%, down 1.7% and lower than the

UK level of 4.7%. Scotland's employment levels are up, increasing

0.9% in the year, 41,000 people more in employment. The DGP thing is

Scotland's performance in youth unemployment, -- particularly

pleasing. Up 3.9% over the year. In conclusion, the work of Pace is part

of a broader approach strategy but the Scottish Government on

intervening where appropriate to save and reinvigorate businesses,

creating an environment for business creation and growth and proactively

assisting individuals who find themselves at risk of redundancy and

approach delivering results in Scotland. It is something we must

and should continue to develop to further expand its reach and

effectiveness. Thank you. On the button. Thank you. I have been

schools by you not to over speak, so I may struggle to do so. Can I

mention also...? I cannot be gentle! OK.

LAUGHTER Can I mention my register of

interest I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants

of Scotland which have been mentioned in Coventry comes by the

minister today? -- complimentary terms. I found the Minister's talk

very interesting. It filled in many areas. Just over two years ago, the

Chamber found itself in broad agreement about the valuable work of

partnership action for continuing employment initiative. Back then,

members pay tribute to the constructive efforts of Pace in

helping those made redundant to transition into new jobs or

training. Two years on from that debate, I would wish to reaffirm the

positive impact of Pace. I represent a part of the country where there

has been a frequent need for Pace teams, communities in the north-east

are still struggling from the downturn in the oil and gas sector.

The industry has moved from a longer term boom to contraction, some would

say severe contraction. To survive at all, businesses have needed to

restructure right across the supply chain, some of that meaning

downsizing, which in this tough climate, redundancies have been

unavoidable. According to the annual report from Oil and Gas UK, there

are 120,000 fewer jobs than in 2014. For those made redundant in this

period, Pace has been a valuable source of support. In particular,

Pace and its 22 partners have played a crucial role in employment support

events in Aberdeen, they have proved to be an ideal opportunity for

employers to recruit from the highly skilled talent pool for more oil and

gas workers. On top of that, as has been referred to, encouraging

results from that 2016 client experience survey. The good news

being 77% of former oil and gas workers have secured work, most of

the oil and gas workers found new roles in different industries,

nearly half saying Pace influenced the receptiveness to alternative

employment opportunities in the north-east. At a national level,

Pace is providing services generally well-regarded by its clients. Most

importantly, the rate of implement through service users continues to

be high, 2014-2016, 70 1% of those who used Pace services secured new

jobs shock. Pace has maintained high levels of satisfaction with 75%

expressing satisfaction with the usefulness and timeliness of its

services. It continues to play a constructive role within Scotland's

labour market. Credit should be given, whether is success, but there

should be a note of caution. Celebrating the success of Pace is

very well and good, but the founder of the company warned, success

breeds complacency, complacency breeds failure and only the paranoid

survive. Despite... LAUGHTER

Despite the general success of the Pace initiative, improvements can

always be made and we have heard one or two here today. Mr Stevenson. It

is just the member has triggered a memory, only the paranoid survive,

which is of course the auto broker fee of a man who was the chief

executive of Intel who came in on Monday and said the business he had

on Friday had emigrated to Korea. His lessons were absolutely an

object lesson in how to have really good value leadership to avoid

catastrophe from a company. I hope other members will read the book

which is one of the seminal works in how to handle change in business.

Thank you for that, of course I think he's survived the Holocaust

and then escaped Hungary in 1956 in the time of the uprising, he's had

an interesting, if you put it that way, life. Going back to where I

was, speaking about the improvements that could perhaps come, one has

spoken about the awareness of and availability of the telephone and

online support that could perhaps be improved. Earlier intervention by

Pace, if possible, and the legal services sometimes, has been

mentioned. Focusing perhaps on redundancy support for older

workers, I think you've given an indication that you will maybe look

at that. Those aged over to have poorer rates of employment compared

to younger age groups. In 2016, findings showed that outcomes for

over 55 had no overall improvement. Some sort of target and support is

needed for older workers and those that Elaine Smith was mentioning

would be welcomed. I don't wish to rain on the Minister's parade, but

there is room for improvement. The work at Pace is not made any easier

perhaps by the current government's current handling of the economy. As

things stand, the Scottish economy is halfway towards a recession. I

don't think there are any sectors currently experiencing growth and

the Scottish Chamber of Commerce has warned that the high tax agenda

risks driving investment away at a time when it is perhaps needed most.

There are some alarm bells ringing and we had to hope that the

government is listening. Perhaps not making things better with the

insistence on holding a second independence referendum which has no

economic uncertainty, which the markets do not like. Economic

problems threaten the good efforts of Pace. Post-redundancy outcomes

will not remain high if positive drop creation falters. I know the

unemployment statistics have improved slightly but new jobs are

from people leaving the market. So that, along with abandoning a high

tax agenda, and make business growth your priority, would be my closing

remark. And I ask you to support the resolution. Thank you. Ichor grim

day to be followed by Lewis Macdonald. Thank you.

I think time should be found in this forum to highlight that while we may

criticise the performances, we should offer praise where it is due.

Generally we are hearing such from across the chamber but I welcome the

chance to bring to the attention of the minister some issues I have

encountered in relation to Pace, both involving barriers placed in

the way of constituents. I will come to those later. Some will be aware

of the advice and support Pace offers to those facing redundancy.

226 individuals across Angus are supported by Pace between April 2016

and March 20 17. Several firms had gone into administration where they

had the challenge of deploying staff. Significantly, six of the

eight Angus -based employers supported by Pace last year operate

in the oil and cinders to. -- oil and industry. A number of my

constituents in Angus had been affected by job losses. The training

from the Scottish Government has acted as a support route

complementing existing services to those affected by redundancies in

the oil and the sector. Supporters offered to those who want to be

trained, up skill and accreditation and certification for those who want

to get new jobs in oil, gas and wider energy sectors. Engineering

and to date, 122 approved applications have been sent to the

fund, to re-hone the skills of oil and gas workers, that has been

invaluable to those in my area. In August of last year, GE announced

151 employees located there where risk of redundancy as a result of

declining activity in the oil and sectors. All employees concerned

were provided with Pace facing redundancy guides, and the

opportunity to attend events. Over 60 members of staff attended those

events where individuals were given the opportunity for a one-to-one

discussion on the situation with a Pace advisor. All redundant

employees were eligible to apply for this fund and relocates hills to

another sector. Many did so. The success of Pace is dependent on

those firms of those facing redundancy -- skills. Months ago, me

and my colleague went to a meeting with a local firm that we had

previously engaged with with bad news to get. Some jobs were going

and others relocated as the firm shut down. Pace could support those

who would not be moving and the response was very positive. Last

year, I got wind of redundancies with a well-known firm in the

constituency. My attempt to engage with it, not for the first time,

came to naught. Pace called the mud seeking access to affected workers

but could not get past the switchboard. They were told to

e-mail a leaflet and it may or may not be shared with the staff. I'm

aware of another situation Pace encountered in Angus when a firm

went into administration with no prospect of being sold on as a going

concern. They approached the administrators seeking contact

details. Who had lost their jobs, to be told that they could not be

passed on. I can't remember whether the reason given was data protection

or whether staff were no longer employed by the firm which meant the

information could not be shared but either way it was not going to be

provided and we had to use media outlets to reach out to those

impacted. I am particularly exercised by that last scenario, it

strikes me when people lose their jobs, nothing should get into the

way of accessing the help that could be available. Presiding Officer, it

is important to recognise the Pace initiative was set up to help

individuals and provide support to employers and firms too. It can be

overlooked. Advisers can provide solutions for employers to retain

some all of the staff. In cases where it is not an option, Pace

offers employees impartial advice. Sitting down with employees to

discuss the situation. When these situations arise, the support that

Pace advisers bring to the table needs to be recognised by employers.

When firms are reluctant to cooperate with a Pace team it can

only have a detrimental impact on families and employees. If they

refuse to engage with external agencies, others may be oblivious to

the fact that Pace can support organisations like themselves for

the best outcome for all parties. It is an issue that needs to be

addressed and as touched upon earlier, there is a role for MS' to

make sure that businesses across the area. -- in this piece. It will be

increasingly important in light of Brexit. Or though it does not

mention that word, it may be covered up by the use of the phrase "Other

challenges". But it is beginning to impact. I was in discussions with a

member of the constituency whose firm will be making some redundant.

They will try and minimise number is concerned, after they lost contracts

out of the blue. One major company is trying to downsize its workforce

because of Brexit. And subcontracted work in place in Scotland is now

going to the Far East. It clearly has a knock-on effect. Brexit is

beginning to bite and it hasn't even happened yet. In closing, Presiding

Officer, let me take the opportunity to thank the skills develop in

Scotland's team in our brother who have done terrific work for

constituents in Angus South and in wider Angus. Those in in full

situations of redundancies in future should engage with Pace advisers and

employees, and organisations as a Holcombe and I appeal to any

constituents in my constituency who have not come forward to their local

skills develop and branch to check their eligibility to the additional

training fund, Presiding Officer. Thank you. Lui Donald?

Other speakers have acknowledged workers in the north-east of

Scotland have had more experience of large-scale redundancies in the last

three years than for quite some time. Most obvious is the downturn

in the oil and sector but that has had wider impacts, for example, in

the closure of restaurants and pubs, and there has also been significant

pressure on the supply chain. And separately, pressure on employment

in other sectors like fish and food processing which has cost hundreds

of jobs. Pace has been and remains important to the regional economy of

the north-east as other parts of Scotland. Through involvement in the

task force, I have seen the strength and limitations of cross agency

working and the impact of major redundancies in a town well old

turner Tim employment is not readily available. I particularly commend

the involvement of the Ulster union helping those. And the Scottish

College helping those up skill and access other jobs. A lot of effort

has gone into mitigating the impact of job losses and reducing the

number of redundancies there. And I think all concerned should take

credit from that. It was mentioned the partnership approach on all

levels of government and members of our own parties, that is valuable in

ensuring the widest possible range of expertise and experience is on

the table and I would acknowledge the role played in the work of that

task force. The closure of Fraser bought hundreds of job losses. The

effect of oil downturn in the Northeast has to be measured in the

thousands. The Minister has mentioned the role of Pace in

addition to the oil and the sector, in supporting individual workers.

Alongside the Pace initiatives, this task force brings together a range

of partners to take this approach. And the work done by the task force

in a number of areas is to be welcomed. This highlights support

for workers made redundant which is very important for those

individuals, and also important to pick those numbers into context.

Where 120 jobs across the United Kingdom, and in Scotland, have been

lost as a result of the downturn. It is clear that the help that has been

made available has been important for those individuals but touches

only part of the wider problem. A lot of work is still to be done to

protect and secure the future of thousands more jobs in the industry

in the supply chain, and beyond. Offshore unions remain rightly very

concerned about the bigger picture. Pat Rafferty of Unite said in

November that we were in the middle of a crisis and unless there was

action soon, we could be facing the point of no return which would be

devastating for the Scottish economy, especially in the

north-east. Jake Molloy of RMT said that their big worry was getting

through this next year. 2017 does not look better than the previous

two. If that is the case this could be the tipping point for the North.

Not only trade unions are concerned. The 25th boil and a survey from the

Chamber of Commerce found that measures taken to address the crisis

in the North Sea had not yet made sufficient impact. That is about

macroeconomic policies. It is also about how governments can act

proactively to avoid redundancies from happening in the first place.

Part of that is about appropriate training, ensuring jobs are

protected in the sector. Without proper support and training schemes,

these sectors could lose many of their most experienced workers.

Having lost one job, all of these workers may not be qualified to take

another and need to be able to access training to be able to do

that. Apprentices, as well as older workers, were hardened by the

downturn in the last few years. Many schemes ended apprenticeships

earlier leaving a lack of security. There has been so much concern in

the oil and the industry 's about this. I know that employers have

told ministers how important it is to know in advance how the money is

distributed and how a print shop and training skills. -- apprenticeship

skills. Some money will go on the workplace training programmes and

initiatives. Clearly, it caused concern for some employers in the

oil and gas industry as money previously needed for training had

gone into the levy. Then, they learned all of that would come back.

Clearly some issues, as oil workers want to go to another industry, many

do not. There needs to be full support for companies in the sector

to retrain and skilled workers and for those who want to provide

high-quality apprenticeships for those in the industry.

The transition training fund is important too. I have raised

concerns before and the shortfall in mutually recognised safety

qualifications between the sectors. I have discussed this with John

McDonnell initially and I am pleased to say that both sectors recognise

the need to address this issue and it is an issue I have also raised

with the task force because it is in areas such as this that there is

still work to be done going forward. Just as he has rightly agreed to

extend the work of the task force because there is still work to be

done, I would want to reiterate the same point in relation to energy

jobs and the oil and gas sector. I know the energy jobs task force is

moving from monthly meeting scheduled to quarterly and I know

members of the task force are keen to contribute more and do more to

protect jobs going forward. I hope the minister can assure us today

there is no intention to end the work of the task force prematurely.

It is not job done in the North East oil and gas sector. Contracts are

still being put on hold and jobs lost and there is still work for

Pace and government agencies working together to address those matters

and I hope we can continue to work together on a cross-party basis in

broad terms in order to ensure it happens. I call Angus MacDonald.

Thank you. I very much welcome the Scottish Government's motion today

and I commend the work of the 21 organisations making up the

ministerial Pace partnership and localised teams. They have been able

to offer support, advice and help to thousands of people who have found

themselves out of work through no fault of their own. Since the crash

of 2008, redundancy have is touched -- redundancy has touched members in

this Chamber, family members, constituency members, close friends,

its impact is always the same, a period of anxiety and grief, not

just in the person who has lost the job, but the family and dependence

as well, a huge knock to self-confidence and a sense of

humiliation and worklessness. I know something personally offered. I will

forget the night I was phoned by a colleague and the terrible words she

said to me. I should not be telling you this, she said, but I wanted you

to have time to prepare, your name is on that list. I was desperately

trying to work out what to do. We had just taken on a three-year

mortgage, my wife was pregnant with our third child. My mobile phone was

up for you will and I was not clear if I would be able to afford it. I

have to check my privilege, I have generous friends, family to lean on,

equity in my house. At the end of that focal, I knew a new kind of

terror I had never experienced. -- phone call. We had a funding grant

which staved off the next round of redundancies. I will never forget

the sense of sheer panic and desperation and it helped give me

empathy when a couple of years later I had to make a member of staff

redundant. It was not just the feeling of uncertainty, how we get

by financially, my job was my life, at least part of it, and who I was

as a person, I was proud of what I did. To lose it would have seemed to

me utterly desperate. I was lucky. The worst I feared was the daily

reality encountered by so many people since 2008 in many sectors. I

would have almost certainly sought to engage with Pace. The partnership

offers a fleet of foot response to redundancy in every corner of

Scotland, a holistic package of care, ably student by staff. It

addresses almost every aspect of the immediate aftermath of redundancy

and the fallout it can have on individuals and the family. It

offers essential assistance with the basics, benefits, household

budgeting, whilst building important transfer of all life skills and

technical advice essential to rejoining the workforce, things like

CV and improvement and interview preparation. Its reach and focus

covers vital elements of the impact on mental health too. Helping

service users to cope with the stress and anxiety, whilst building

resilience. It is this pastoral care, this pastoral role, which

gives Pace a hugely welcome humanitarian edge as well, vital,

when you consider the 40,000 suicides linked to unemployment and

job insecurity worldwide each year. I want to recognise too the work of

Pace with Scottish garment and partner organisations in their

efforts to adapt to the landscape of redundancy in this country. Whilst

the partnership had been previously targeted at large-scale

redundancies, a regular feature of the start of this decade, by

re-profiling through the introduction of a national helpline,

improved website, the partnership teams are more readily available to

individuals and small employers, particularly in rule areas at times

of redundancy. Reconfiguring in this way has helped the partnership adapt

to the change in economic outlook which has seen a decline in

large-scale redundancies and as such scene assistance offered to 4500

individuals and more than 800 businesses when considered in the

context of families and support networks around these individuals,

it reaches greater still. I welcome this adaptive approach and if I

could offer one recommendation to the Scottish Government and by

extension to the partnership on how it might adapt still further, it

would be this. Please try to do more for older people facing redundancy.

Those workers made redundant over the age of 50 find it harder than

any other age group in our society to re-enter the workforce and many

find themselves locked out of the labour market for the rest of their

lives. It is essential that Pace teams engage with these workers at

the earliest opportunity and offer enhanced support over and above the

normal assistance package, with training for IT literacy and indeed

job Oak Ridge. To appoint some of the responsibility to work as lies

with us in this Chamber as well -- job brokerage. We need to rise to

the challenge of age-related workplace discolouration in our

society and do so with the same vigour with which we meet the

This is a motion around which every This is a motion around which every

member in this JV should coalesce. I am grateful for that camaraderie and

sense of unity around this issue Peshmerga in this Chamber. -- in

this Chamber. I want to thank the staff involved in the work of the

partnership and the Scottish Cup meant for raising this in

Parliament. -- the Scottish Government. I call Angus Donald to

be followed by, excuse me, a member not in the Chamber... I am terribly

sorry, Mr McDonald. Followed by Gillian Martin. Thank you, Presiding

Officer. I am pleased to contribute to today's debate on Pace,

ironically at one time I had managed to trim down my speech to six

minutes in advance. One thing that unites us is to help our

constituents who find themselves in all manner of situations and I am

sure we all speak readily to constituents at risk of losing their

jobs or have lost their jobs through decisions made to close sites,

decisions by companies to move operations elsewhere, hard times,

leaving a hole in the local economy, workers sometimes in significant

numbers looking for alternative employment. As you would expect, it

has certainly been the case that residents in my constituency have

been hit by the threat of job losses, most recently 200 people

have been faced with this prospect cause of the announcement by a

company operating a plant making bathroom equipment to consolidate

and move manufacturing to Slovakia. They have been operating for over

258 years in the area and it is one of Scotland's Alderson manufacturing

companies, embedded in Scotland's industrial heritage -- oldest

manufacturing companies. In these situations, it is frustrating more

cannot be done to save jobs directly and considering the skills levels

and the length of service some of the workers have, it can be a

daunting and difficult position to be in, to know where to begin,

especially if you are starting out in the jobs market. That is when

Pace kicks in. Partnership Action for Continuing Employment., Scottish

enterprise and the local authorities working together to prepare workers

for the challenges, it has proved to be invaluable in the area and

beyond. Over 2016-17, the Pace partnership has assisted with

several redundancy situations including one I mentioned earlier

and street sweeper manufacturers among others. It has been

instrumental in providing guidance to employees and agencies involved.

389 people over that period have benefited from the support and

advice available from Pace, with extremely positive feedback. Most

employers are impressed by the support available to them as a

business and this has enabled them to provide support to the staff at

which can only be an incredibly difficult time. Clearly the earlier

intervention, the better, in terms of planning support required. This

is obviously dependent on every individual circumstance. With regard

to the situation, a plan was initiated to provide employability

workshops, support with literacy and numerous sea, self-employment

workshops, as well as the identification of short vocational

opportunities and the offer of accreditation of prior work -based

learning -- literacy and numeracy. There was also the early closure of

the power station, and on-site office was established to provide

support. Advice on elephants, employability support, support

access training, it all contributed to 370 people being supported.

Advice on benefits. 18% remain economically inactive. In terms of

progress, there is light at the end of the tunnel. With support from the

Scottish Government, particularly from the Minister, who recently met

with the Falkirk economic partnership to discuss the progress

in the investment zone, there is a positive vision in my constituency.

Can I thank the Minister for help and encouragement he and his

officials have provided locally in recent months? These measures will

realise the initiative enabling a wider programme of assistance

covering energy and enterprise growth and I have no doubt this will

lead to further opportunities for people in Falkirk East and across

the district who are seeking employment now and in the future. Of

course in an ideal world, the support Pace provides would never

have to be called upon. The economic uncertainty because of a number of

factors, Brexit was mentioned earlier, times were redundancy is

inevitable, Pace can be the difference between continued

employment or an uncertain future. What Pace delivers locally and

nationally is of vital importance in this difficult situations and I am

pleased with the work being done in my area to help and support my

constituents as and when it is required. It is not all doom and

gloom, the unemployment situation has been stabilising, numbers

dropping, and it is fair to say, Falkirk has had positive outlook and

an exciting future. 2016, business Gateway in full quote assisted 283

start-up businesses and tourism is a big new growth area -- in Falkirk.

In addition, the council's economic strategy for Falkirk details plans

to create an investment zone of national significance at Grangemouth

and of course there are 250 acres of land creating 200 acres for sites

expected to attract up to 500 jobs. Maybe more. Presiding Officer,

business Gateway and Falkirk is forecasting new business and

expansion of existing enterprises could bring around five ended in the

next three years. -- 550 new jobs in the next three years. With the

vision and energy and the new SNP administration, the need for future

Pace intervention will hopefully be greatly reduced. Thank you.

I called Gillian Martin, then Jamie Greene. Sadly, there were few if any

people in my constituency that do not know someone affected by

redundancy from the oil and gas sector. For decades, it was a

reliable area of the economy, not just for those directly employed,

but also the tens of thousands of people working in the supply chain

connected to oil and gas and the businesses benefited from the

disposable income of high wage earners in the sector which allowed

the hospitality sector to flourish. In the last two years, a decrease in

the global oil price and reluctance of the government to offer

guarantees to exploration companies has led to significant job losses in

the sector and there is a pressing need for support of the men and

women making effort to retrain and find new ways to work in a very

different employment landscape in the area.

Rashid alone they helped over 1000 individuals in dealing with

redundancy. In December the reported having more than 2000 apprentices in

training. That came alongside fantastic news that out of over

11,000 16 to 19-year-olds in Aberdeenshire, 93.2 work in

learning, training or work. The tangible difference been made in the

lives of people who work in oil and gas and the new options been

highlighted for constrictions like mine is a development I welcome. In

March of this year, PACE held an appointment event in Aberdeenshire

bringing together a hundred individuals affected by

redundancies. There were other opportunities use these skills is

people had already learned. Physically bringing together

employees with employers is a very effective way to get people a chance

to get back to work, and I commend PACE for taking the steps to

identify opportunities like this. PACE brings together many employment

support agencies and programmes that are available to people from the

north-east. More than 400 new churning places are now available to

people who are now leaving that oil and gas sector to gain the skills

you need to move into other industries thanks to the journey

fun. This fund was set up by the Scottish gunmen to offer support

with training grants and to help reaching, add scale and get

accreditation that would help them get a different job in oil and gas,

the weight of energy sector, engineering and manufacturing. Let's

not forget that people in oil and gas industry are highly trained

people working in Scotland and have had to go through years of rigorous

training on an almost quarterly basis, and a lot of the certificates

that they have have to be looked at in terms of how they can be

transferred into other disciplines. Any such as renewables,

construction, teaching, rod holders, smart meter installation and real

are sure to benefit from the highly educated and skilled people trained

in oil and gas. The training fund ensures that these road back to

employment are created and communicated. There is a must that

former oil and gas markers are not interested in readjusting to new

types of work, but the reality is that when you speak to people

worried about their job are the future, that the absolutely want to

contribute to the Scottish economy. They want to provide for the cells

and their families and they wanted have the opportunity to work in a

stable sector. Let's not forget that a lot of these people went to a

setting in the early 90s when he had to take a pay cut on a rate cut, or

the lost jobs then and came back into the industry. They don't really

want to go through that again, so they are very keen to be redeployed

in other areas of the workforce. I have just chaired a meeting of the

Government emergency committee, Cobra, where we discussed the

details of and the response to the appalling events in Manchester last

night our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and with the

families and friends of all those affected. It is now beyond doubt

that the people of Manchester and of this country have fallen victim to a

callous terrorist attack, an attack that targeted some of the youngest

people in our society with cold calculation. This was among the

worst terrorist incidents we have ever experienced in the United

Kingdom, and although it is not the first time Manchester has suffered

in this way, it is a worse attack this city has experienced and the

worst ever to head the north of England. The police and security

services are working at speed to establish the complete picture, but

I wanted to tell you what I can at this stage. At 1033 last night, the

police were called to report an explosion at Manchester Arena, in

Manchester city centre, near Victoria train station. We now know

that a single terrorist detonated his improvised explosive device near

one of the exits of the venue, deliberately choosing the time and

place to cause maximum carnage and to kill and injure indiscriminately.

The explosion coincided with the inclusion of a pop concert which was

attended by many young families and groups of children. All I saw

terrorism are cowardly attacks on innocent people, but this attack

stands out for its appalling, sickening cowardice. Deliberately

tagging and Saint, defence the children and young people who should

have been enjoying one of the most memorable nights of their lives. As

things stand, I can tell you that in addition to the attacker, 22 people

have died and 59 people had been injured. Those who write and had I

been treated in a different hospitals across Greater Manchester.

Many are being treated for life-threatening conditions. And we

know that among those killed and injured by many children and young

people. We struggle to comprehend the warped and twisted mind that

sees a room packed with young children not as I seem to cherish,

but as an opportunity for carnage, but we can continue to resolve to

thwart such attacks in the future, to take on and defeat the ideology

that often feels as violence, and if there are tonnes out to be those

responsible for that attack, to seek them out and bring them to justice.

The police and security services believe that the attack was carried

out by one man, but they now need to know why he was acting alone was

part of a wider group. It will take some time to establish these facts,

and the investigation will continue. The police and security services

will be given all the resources they need to complete that task. The

police and security services believe they know the identity of the

perpetrator, but at this stage of the investigations we cannot confirm

his name. Their police and emergency services have, as always, acted with

great courage and on behalf of the country I want to express gratitude

to them. They acted in accordance with the plans you have in place,

and the exercises they conducted test those plans, and they performed

with the utmost professionalism. 400 police officers were involved in the

operation through the night, and many paramedics, doctors and nurses

have worked valiantly amateur Matic and terrible scenes to save lives

and care for the wounded. Significant resources have been

deployed to the police investigation and continue to be visible patrols

around Manchester, which include the deployment of armed officers. For

people who live and work in Manchester, there remains a large

cauldron in place and I Manchester Arena Victoria Station, which will

be in place for some time. The station is closed and will remain

closed well a detailed forensic search is underway. We know that

many friends and relatives of people caught up in the attack are still

trying to find out what has happened to their children, brothers and

sisters, parents and loved ones, salt, please, think of those people

who are experiencing unimaginable worry, and if you have any

information at all relating to the attack, please contact Greater

Manchester Police. The threat level remains that Syria. That means that

a terrorist attack means highly likely. -- remains at saviour. We

will continue SS this thread today and and the days ahead. Later today,

I will travel to Manchester to meet the Chief Constable of Greater

Manchester Police, Ian Hopkins, the mayor of greater amount to, Andy

Burnham, and members of the emergency services who came to

Manchester's aid in the moment of need. As I announced last night, the

general election campaign has been suspended. I will cheer another

meeting of Cobra later today. A terrible moments like this, it is

cast before leaders, politicians and others to condemn the perpetrators

and to declare that the terrorists will not win. But the fact that we

have been you before and the fact that we need to say this again does

not make it any less true. For as often as we experience but the worst

of humanity in Manchester last night, we also saw the best. The

cowardice of the attacker met the bravery of the emergency services

and the people of Manchester. The attempt to divide is met countless

acts of kindness that brought people closer together, and in the days

ahead, those must be the things we remember. The images we hold in our

mind should not be those of senseless slaughter, but of the

ordinary men and women who bid concerns about their own safety to

one side and rushed to help. The men and women of the emergency services,

who tirelessly to bring comfort to help anti-serum lives. Of the

messages of solidarity and hope, of all those who open their homes to

the victims. They are the images that embody the spirit of Manchester

and the spirit of Britain. S Bennett that two years of conflict and

terrorism has never been broken and will never be broken. There will be

difficult days ahead. We offer our thoughts and prayers to the family

and friends of those affected. We offer our full support to the

authorities, the emergency and the security services as a go about

their work, and we all, every single one of us, stand with the people of

Manchester at this terrible time. And today, letters remember those

those who died and let us celebrate those who helped, safe in the

knowledge that the terrorists will never won, and our values, our

country, and our way of life will always prevail.

The next item of business as portfolio questions. Number one,

Rose Thompson. Thank you. To as the Scottish Government Harry agrees it

estimate of ?150 million annual cost for the new Social Security agency.

Presiding Officer, the executive summary of the outline business case

for this Social Security agency Scotland which was published on the

Scottish Government website on the 27th of April 2017 contains if real

explanation. Further detail is also contained in the main document and

chapters two, five and nine. And I forgot to say the usual mantra,

short questions, short answers, though I except that that was

required. I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that answer. I know

that the Cabinet Secretary Finance committee conceded that the cost of

delivery of the benefits will be greater than the present cost. When

quizzed by my colleague Alness, Mr Mackay was unable to elaborate on

these cars. Can the Cabinet secretary explained where the

Scottish Government has quantified this cost and exactly what it will

be? The Cabinet Secretary for refiners conceded no such thing, but

of course it is on the official record what he did or did not say to

the Finance committee. Can I point out that the agency running cost

will be around 5% of what we spend on benefits, and the combinable

figure for DWP is Ashley 6.3%. The running costs estimates from a cost

using activity base and information from the Department of work

impressions, and a minister in her statement not that long ago said

that these figures would be further refined in terms of the more nuanced

details signs of the system. And of course, the location of the agency,

but I think of running cost, at estimated at around 5%, that shows

that our figures are credible, they are compatible with the UK

Government, and they are value for money. To assess Scottish Government

plan has two the guidance on what constitutes a danger this building.

Thank you. This got is Government does not provide guidance on what

constitutes a danger this building. Local authorities are responsible

and the building Scotland act, 2003, to deal with buildings that they

consider to be dangerous. They also have powers to deal with

buildings they considered effective. Has the Scottish Government made

consideration for buildings that need security monitoring to keep

children out? I do not feel... We have got your question, thank you.

As I said, it is up to local authorities themselves to decide

whether a building is dangerous or defective and to take the necessary

actions they feel they need to take with the legislation in place to do

so. Question three. Thank you. To ask the Scottish Government how it

will encourage the uptake of all the devolved benefits to which people

might be entitled. Social Security is a human right and we are

determined to support everyone to claim the benefits to which they are

entitled. There are a range of reasons why people do not claim such

support and it is disappointing UK Government has not taken action to

improve take-up, making sure everyone receives financial support

is one of the first steps to putting dignity and respect at the heart of

Social Security in Scotland. We have made a clear commitment to do all we

can to maximise family income. Over the course of this parliamentary

term, we will deliver a programme of activity to increase uptake of

Social Security by encouraging people to exercise their rights and

claim the benefits they are due. What assessment has the Government

made of the effectiveness...? I beg your pardon. Quite right. Frowning

at me. Alison Johnson. I am out of practice! Thank you. I thank the

Cabinet Secretary for her response. Today the Scottish Parliament

becomes responsible for a range of benefits including carers allowance

and many of the benefits have complicated interactions with one

another, making it more difficult for people to understand their

entitlement. When someone... Let us have a question. What work is under

way to review how the benefits being devolved interact and what steps are

being taken to make this complicated system easier to not navigate? --

easier to navigate? It is complex and therefore a very important point

for the Scottish Government to help people navigate their way through

the laxity is to ensure the agency has the duty to maximise income is

-- the complexity. It will help us know and evaluate what works in

terms of encouraging people to take up the benefits they are entitled

to, whether they are reserve benefits or devolved. As I say in my

closing remarks to yesterday's debate, we will have a Round Table

with our partners and local government, ensuring the work we do

in this parliamentary term is consistent and broadbrush and

targeted to people who need advice. Yesterday I was confused with

someone else and today Alison Johnson. Probably progress! What has

the assessment been of the week-long campaign to highlight support? It is

a fair point. The campaign in March was just phase one, broadbrush

campaign to support the general take-up of benefits, the press

activity had the potential to reach over 1 million people, the radio

activity had the potential also to reach 1.3 million people. And we

know from the Citizens Advice Bureau that they have had an increase in

inquiries and website activity. In terms of the more detailed nuanced

analysis of the impact, that work is still going on. Can the Cabinet

Secretary tell us the value of the unclaimed devolved benefits that the

UK Government has failed to encourage the take-up of? It is

quite difficult to get accurate information in relation to benefits

that will be devolved but what we know over the piece and terms of

benefits and child tax benefits in particular, there are more than half

a million individuals and families who are not claiming what they are

entitled to. That gives an onus on the Scottish garment to do more but

it begs big westerns about what the UK Government is doing to increase

uptake -- that gives an onus on the Scottish Government to do more but

it begs big questions about what the UK Government is doing to increase

uptake. What assessment has been made of the impact that an increased

carers allowance would have on disability poverty? Thank you. The

aim of the increased carers allowance is to recognise the vital

contributions carers make to society. We are assessing the impact

currently of the policy on other groups along with other policies

including disabled people through the equality impact assessments. I

thank the Minister. Now that both the powers to top up and make

changes have been devolved and ends in this Chamber, we have the powers

to legislate and improve the lives of carers across Scotland. I am a

cocoa bean of the cross-party group for carers. I want a question.

Before we get to carers week... I want a question. Can the Minister

give greater clarity on the payment of the increased allowance as to

when and how it will be paid and whether she has considered the

possibility of backdating to September to reflect when the powers

of top-up would evolve? As she rightly says, we now have to bring

the legislation to the parliament to give us the legal framework to give

additional payments. We will do so before summary says. We are

considering how we will make the additional top-up payments. --

before summer recess. We want to do it sooner. We will use the views and

experiences of our panels and expert groups and if the cross-party group

has additional comments to draw to my attention, I would be happy to

receive those. The Scottish Government, by what date for the

next phase of the benefit uptake campaign begin and how long it will

run and who the target audience will be? We will have a rolling programme

of activity over the course of the Parliamentary term, the next phase

will be focused on young carers. During carers week from the 12 until

the 18th of June, we will take action to ensure young carers are

aware of the benefits available to them and to encourage take-up. We

are working in partnership with carers trust Scotland and a wide

range of stakeholders who will support this activity. We know

carers and young people play a crucial role in society and it is

vitally important we support them in looking after the people they care

for which can often be in very challenging circumstances. I welcome

the comments she has made about young carers. My disappointment in

the level of investment, I have raised it recently. Up to ?2 billion