In a feature article in Friday’s Scotsman, Jeremy Peat of the David Hume Institute considers policy priorities for procurement and community benefit clauses in Scotland. His thoughts are informed by a recent Royal Society of Edinburgh seminar on the theme and a subsequent discussion with MSPs from the Scottish Parliament’s Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee.
Jeremy concludes that appropriate “central guidance” from Scottish Government on procurement is essential in achieving an “optimal impact” for tackling social, economic and environmental challenges in both the short and long term.
The links between infrastructure and community regeneration has been a key area of interest and investigation for SURF in the last two years. With support from a range of partners, we are in the process of finalising a programme for an ambitious national conference exploring the ‘Truths and Myths’ in the social benefits that are claimed to derive from investments in infrastructure.
Confirmed speakers include Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure Nicola Sturgeon, who has been invited to elaborate on the Scottish Government’s long-term procurement policy vision. The event will take place on Wednesday 29 May in Edinburgh.
