(00:38) What is the Scottish Business Monitor?

(02:44) What business types are represented and what is the sample size?

(04:28) Has poor business sentiment from Q1 2025 recovered in Q2?

(06:50) What changes have we seen based on the changes to employer national insurance contributions?

(08:37) What does business sentiment look like for 2026?

(11:26) What factors are contributing to current business sentiment?

Timestamps

(00:23) What is congestion charging?

(02:59) Exemptions

(04:49) Similarities with LEZs

(07:10) Timing of charges

(10:26) Use of discounts & revenue

(14:54) Clyde Tunnel Toll

(16:26) Edinburgh’s failed proposal

(20:13) Other UK charges

(21:43) Effectiveness of congestion charges

(23:37) Glasgow’s public transport system

(25:57) Public attitudes

Timestamps: 

(01:55) The Social Policy Association (SPA) and the East Asian Social Policy Research Network (EASP)

(04:15) The Hospitality Sector – Serving the Future Project 

(07:30) Learning Disabilities & Employment 

(10:30) Child Poverty 

(14:40) Housing & Health 

(19:10) Labour One Year in Office: Tax Policy & Wealth Taxes? 

(24:30) Key Takeaways from the Conference 

PARTICIPANTS

Dr Hannah Randolph, Economics Fellow, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

Professor Mairi Spowage, Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde 

Ben Cooper, Economics Fellow, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

TIME STAMPS

(0:20) History of the FAI

(5:30) FAI conference plans

(10:15) Parliamentary reception plans

(11:40) Where to find more information about the FAI 50th

Introduction

What are investors saying? 03:43

Why is policy certainty so important? 10:27

Energy companies versus energy investors: 13:05

Where should government focus on? 17:52

Why the grid is so important? 24:42

Importance of effective carbon pricing regime: 31:04

Policy Responses from UK and Scottish Government: 42:11

PARTICIPANTS 

Ben Cooper, Economics Fellow, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde 

Mairi Spowage, Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde 

Joao Sousa, Deputy Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde 

TIMESTAMPS 

(00:30) A summary of the spending review announcements 

(08:00) What did we hear on capital investment? 

(11:50) What were the announcements on day-to-day expenditure? 

(21:14) What are the implications on Scotland from the spending review? 

(26:50) What has changed for the Medium Term Financial Strategy? 

(35:30) How important is the spending review going forward? 

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(00:38) What do the latest child poverty statistics say?

(01:49) What was JRF's reaction to the stats?

(03:09) Can we see an impact from Scottish Child Payment?

(06:09) How do we achieve the 2030 targets from here?

(09:24) Modelling of options to meet 2030 targets

(12:57) What about cost?

(19:27) How might UK Government proposed benefits changes impact poverty levels?

(23:30) How will the changes impact Scotland's finances?

(25:41) What happens in Scotland if the work capability assessment is replaced by the PIP assessment?

(28:20) What's next for child poverty analysis at the FAI and JRF?

PARTICIPANTS

Dr Hannah Randolph, Economics Fellow, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

Professor Mairi Spowage, Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde 

Dr João Sousa, Deputy Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

TIME STAMPS

(0:30) Economic conditions leading up to the spring statement

(16:15) What announcements were made and how do they affect Scotland?

(21:10) OBR estimates for policy costs and savings

(30:25) What fiscal policy changes might we expect later this year?

(37:40) What are the UK's prospects for growth? 

PARTICIPANTS

Professor Mairi Spowage, Director, Fraser of Allander Institute
Angela Mitchell, Senior Partner for Scotland & Northern Ireland, Deloitte
Lesley McEwan, Director in Deloitte's Infrastructure and Capital Programme Team, Deloitte

TIMESTAMPS

(10:50 ) What purposes could public land be put to?
(14:10) Taking the demand to the supply – data centres
(15:40) Grid infrastructure issues must still be tackled
(16:40) Digital opportunities
(19:23) Threats and opportunities from AI, including smart cities
(22:28) What can Scotland learn from other cities around the world
(24:30) A key role for research and academia
(25:23) Power hungry AI
(26:50) Use of digital and AI for public service reform
(29:57) Civil service efficiency
(31:50) Economic impact of these opportunities, including employment