COVID-19 – impact on Scotland’s businesses, workers and the economy

The Committee held an ongoing inquiry on the impact of COVID-19 on Scotland’s economy, including businesses and workers. The Committee issued an open call for views after the crisis began; we thank those who submitted evidence. This helped inform the Committee’s scrutiny of the Scottish and UK Governments’ responses to the crisis. COVID-19 was also the focus of the Committee’s scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s budget. 

You can read the written submissions received here:

Written Submissions received

Following the evidence session, the Committee wrote to the Cabinet Secretary. The Cabinet Secretary responded on 10 April 2020.

• Follow up with the Cabinet Secretary
• Cabinet Secretary's response

Evidence

The Committee's second phase of work on COVID-19 focused on 4 areas. The Committee's online consultations on these areas closed on Friday 31 July 2020. You can read all the responses received at the following links:

• Impact on young people;
• Role of the enterprise agencies and SNIB;
• Impact on businesses and workers;
• Plans for economic recovery (including scrutiny of the AGER report).

The Committee also asked young people about the impact of COVID-19. You can read their responses at the following link:

• Impact on young people digital consultation

The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland wrote to the Committee regarding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children and young people.

• Letter from the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland
• Independent Children's Rights Impact Assessment on the Response to Covid-19
• Independent Children's Rights Impact Assessment - for children

As part of its COVID-19 inquiry, the Committee held focus groups with young people and businesses. 

• Focus groups with young people 
• Focus groups with businesses

 

The meetings can be viewed below:

Businesses:

Young people:

On  6 October 2020 the Committee took evidence from Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills.

• Official Report
• Follow-up letter from the Minister

Regional focus groups with young people

The Committee held focus groups with young people to inform their evidence sessions on the impact of COVID-19 in urban and rural areas and the North East. Notes of the main points made in the focus meetings are set out below, along with supporting information provided by participants following the meetings:

• Focus group with young people in urban areas
• Focus group with young people in rural areas
• Focus group with young people in the North East

On 26 November 2020, Enable Works wrote with supplementary information on the impact of COVID-19 on young people:

• ENABLE Works Feedback

On 27 November 2020, Enable Works wrote with further supplementary information on the impact of COVID-19 on young people 

• COVID-19's impact on Young People and Employability
• Young People, Jobs and COVID-19
• Young People, Employability and COVID-19

On 12 January 2021, the Scottish Youth Parliament wrote to the Committee regarding the impact of COVID-19 on young people’s career prospects:

•  Scottish Youth Parliament's Letter to the Committee

Correspondence

On 16 April 2020 the Committee wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Fair Work and Culture, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 

Report