09.09.2010
On 12 November business leaders and politicians will return to Holyrood for the sixth annual Business in Parliament conference, to discuss how to re-build the economy and avoid another recession.
The event will focus on how the public and private sectors can work together against a background of budget cuts, to lead the economy out of the doldrums. It will be the final BiP conference before next year’s Scottish Parliament Election.
The event is jointly organised by the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government, and will bring together MSPs, leading figures from the public sector, and some of Scotland's most respected business figures.
Keynote speakers include:
Chairman of Lloyds Banking Group, Sir Winfried Bischoff.
First Minister the Rt Hon Alex Salmond.
Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP.
Convener of the Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee Iain Smith MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney MSP.
Aggreko Chief Executive, Rupert Soames.
Board member of Skills Development Scotland, member of the Court of the University of Dundee and a US-UK Fulbright Commissioner, Dr Janet Lowe.
Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson said: “The Business in the Parliament Conference, now in its sixth year, brings together leading names from the worlds of politics, the public sector and business to examine burning issues for the Scottish economy".
“The Scottish Parliament is delighted to host an event which brings together these key players in the Scottish economy.”
Convener of the Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, Iain Smith said: "This year’s conference will focus on how businesses can work with the public sector to ensure Scotland doesn’t end up lagging behind other economies as we come out of a severe recession.
"It comes at a particularly pertinent time, as the public sector focuses on how to balance a reduction in budgets with supporting growth."
"There is a varied range of speakers taking part and they will be asking questions and demanding answers on such issues as the level of support given to businesses by banks."
Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "In order to secure the economic recovery already underway, it is vital that the public and private sectors work together.
"Business in the Parliament provides an important forum for leading figures from politics, business and the public sector to discuss the economy and how best to deliver the sustainable success we all want to see."
As part of the conference there will also be a number of discussion sessions on topics such as:
'Banking reform' - hosted by John Swinney and facilitated by Chief Executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise, Owen Kelly.
'Sustainable transport' - hosted by Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson MSP and facilitated by Managing Director of First Scotrail, Steve Montgomery.