Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill (First sitting)

Douglas Ross Excerpts

Committee stage & Committee Debate: 1st sitting: House of Commons
Tuesday 9th June 2020 Public Bill Committees

[The Chair]

May I just check that Mr McTague is there? Apparently, he is not. We will try to get him back.

[Douglas Ross (Moray) (Con)]

Q Just while we are waiting to reconnect, I notice that the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry sometimes speaks on behalf of other chambers—in your answers you have said a number of times, “And my colleagues in other chambers.” What dialogue have you had with, for example, the Scottish chambers of commerce and others around the country to speak on their behalf?

Richard Burge: Just quickly, there is a thing called the British Chamber of Commerce, which is a hub body.

[Douglas Ross]

Q The Scottish chambers of commerce are not part of that.

Richard Burge: No, but individual chambers—the 53 member chambers across the UK—are members.

[Douglas Ross]

Q So only eight in Scotland.

Richard Burge: That is right. There are 53 accredited chambers.

[Douglas Ross]

Q So just to check for the record, a large proportion of the chambers that you are speaking about are not the Scottish chambers.

Richard Burge: No.

[The Chair]

Do we have Mr McTague?

Martin McTague: Yes, I am here. Sorry, the line dropped.