Behind the Scenes: CBI Scotland

However successful, all organisations, whether they operate domestically or globally, are subject to influences over which they have little or no control – for example employment regulation, interest rates and the impact of government tax policy.

The CBI is the country’s foremost business lobbying organisation campaigning on behalf of UK firms to ensure the needs of commerce are understood by Government. We unashamedly seek to influence policy makers in the UK and, since our members are affected by developments in the global market place too, we have a dedicated lobbying presence through our offices in Brussels, Beijing and Washington DC.

The formation of the Holyrood Parliament, the increasing influence of the European institutions and the retention at Westminster of many powers of importance to business have led to a complex and ever demanding policy environment for Scottish companies.

Faced with this challenge, it is crucial that business speaks coherently, and where necessary, robustly to Government. CBI Scotland is uniquely placed to bring to policy development, and to decision-makers and influencers, an authoritative and convincing voice of business. The CBI has a number of strengths which make us a genuine force within policy making in Scotland. First and foremost is that we are an independent private sector organisation representing businesses across the country and without regard to size or sector.

Our policy positions are determined by our 47-member CBI Scotland Council elected from amongst the wider membership. Council establishes our key policy positions as well as responses to Executive or other public consultations. Members form ad-hoc policy groups to respond to issues as and when they arise and, together with staff, give evidence to parliamentary committees and represent the organisation at official events and on external working groups.

Occasional position papers are produced, most recently on the debate about fiscal autonomy and the powers of the devolved parliament. We also produce fresh research and attempt to lead debate on issues, e.g. our ‘Planning for Growth: The Business Agenda for Planning Reform’ document three years ago breathed fresh impetus into the effort which ultimately led to the enactment of the recent Planning Bill.

We meet regularly with Ministers, civil servants, parliamentarians and opposition politicians to press our case. The period since the publication of our Business Manifesto for the recent Scottish election was very intense and we met with each of the main party leaders and their advisers.

We make common cause with other organisations for mutual benefit, and undertake numerous speaking engagements to promote the business message on a variety of topics – migrant workers, corporate homicide, transport, public service reform and enterprise education to name but a few from the past few months alone.

Our lobbying is effective as recent decisions testify – restoration of business rates parity with England; rejection of more onerous Scotland-only legislation on corporate homicide; reforms to the planning system without third party rights of appeal or community rights of notification; the sensible compromise on New Year’s Day trading ban; transport projects such as M74 and A80.

With Holyrood dominating much of the debate in the media, it can be easy to forget the importance of other legislatures to Scotland’s commercial life. Scots MPs remain a powerful and influential force, which is why CBI Scotland has an active programme of engagement with MPs and holds regular briefings and receptions at Westminster. Our members regularly contribute and are actively engaged in CBI policy making at UK level. They also undertake lobbying and fact-finding visits to Brussels and to Washington DC.

David Lonsdale is the Assistant Director of CBI Scotland.

11 June 2007

The Bill Briefing: The Alcohol Labelling Bill

It appears as though alcohol is never out of the British news, current worries about binge drinking and the myriad of health and social concerns that accompany it have long proved a discussion point on TV and in both broadsheets and tabloids.  It is then hardly a surprise that a Private Members Bill should be brought forward to regulate the labelling of alcoholic drinks.

The Bill was brought forward by Lord Mitchell (Labour) and proposes that producers of alcoholic drinks should be responsible for displaying warnings regarding the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy, particulary warning that even small amounts can have "serious consequences for the health of the baby".  The Bill also stipulates the size of type on the warning in relation to the size of container.

Although the majority of people within the House of Lords supported the Bill it was pointed out the there was no scientific evidence that moderate drinking during pregnancy is at all harmful to mother or baby; and that many generations of healthy children have been born to mothers who have partaken in an occasional glass of wine.  The second objection raised to the Bill concerned the aesthetics of any warning and it was claimed any such label would spoil a bottle of Chateau Mouton Rothschilds.

Coupled with the current readings of this Bill in the House of Lords are recent Government announcements regarding voluntary schemes for alcohol labelling.  The Department of Health announced a voluntary scheme to put health warnings, containing the amount of alcohol units contained in drinks on their labels.  However industry reaction has been mixed with many figures stating that although there is a need for warning, that the drinks industry should not be held solely responsible, while others disagree on the wording contained in proposed labels.

11 June 2007

What is the G8?

The annual G8 summit has become as well known for anarchist protests as for the issues discussed, but who or what are the G8?

The G8 is a group of seven of the world's leading industrialised countries plus Russia.  The seven are, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, US and Canada.  The Group of Eight is essentially informal, and has no budget and no permanent staff. 

The G8 first started life as the Library Group.  Prompted by the oil crisis and global recession in the 1970s the US started discussions with senior financial officials from Europe and Japan.  In 1975 the discussions drew in heads of governments, and the six nations involved became known as the G6.  Canada joined in 1976 making it the G7 and Russia in 1998, forming the G8 who meet today.

Issues likely to be high on this year's agenda are:

• World trade talks, developed countries would like more access to Europe protected markets, as well as those in India and Brazil.
• Emissions targets
• Investment in Africa

Many commentators will also be closely watching the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.  Relations between Russia and Europe were obviously strained during the EU Russian summit in Samara, as reported in last fortnight's e-bulletin.  Since then Putin has threatened to aim his nuclear missiles at several sights in Europe which host part of a US anti-ballistic missile system, mainly in Poland and the Czech Republic.  President Bush fired back with comments about Russia "derailing" democracy, prompting many to wonder whether we are watching the opening gambits to a second cold war.

11 June 2007

The European Briefing: Foreign workers

This week the European Commission is set to publish a previously delayed paper, criticising Member States for unnecessary red tape aimed at firms from other countries.  According to reports Member States are singled out as using heavy-handed controls to ensure that foreign service providers find it difficult to access their markets.

Measures include always requiring foreign workers to carry various documentation and an obligation for foreign firms to have both an office and a representative in the host country.  These measures are required in EU countries such as Germany, Austria, Greece, Belgium, Sweden and sixteen others.  The Commission states that many of the rules are applied disproportionately and there is a general assumption of fraud.

At the moment there are several cases pending and 27 being prepared against Member States who are in breach of the EU's laws on posting workers.

11 June 2007