Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament am 2:58 pm ar 6 Chwefror 2025.
I will start with the end of Mr Johnson’s question. My speech made very clear what SDS will continue to do, including providing careers advice. Far from diminishing SDS’s role in that space, I talked about an expanded role for the careers collaborative and SDS’s continuing role in employer engagement and in skills. On the point about diluting the employers’ voice, I have been very clear in the Parliament and with employers that we are expanding that role, which is why I think employers will take confidence from what we are doing. We are trying to weave the employers’ voice into absolutely everything that we do, because that is vital.
I met SAAB a few months ago. In our most recent conversation, when we talked about the future role for employers, it said that it was not precious about a structure or forum, but it wanted to be assured that the employers’ voice would continue to be heard—we intend to continue to ensure that. If the member was listening to the start of my speech, he will know that I made the point that SAAB has two committees that will continue through the process—certainly through the transition and perhaps beyond that. I anticipate that its members will be heavily involved in the work that will be taken forward.