3. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the recommendations of the independent review into women in entrepreneurship in Scotland. (S6O-02166)

We welcome the recommendations of “Pathways: A New Approach for Women in Entrepreneurship”—Ana Stewart and Mark Logan’s review on supporting women in entrepreneurship. The challenge is clear: there remains an unacceptable gap in participation in entrepreneurship. The report offers a clear path to closing that gap and supporting women to achieve their business ambitions, by opening up economic opportunities for women and contributing to building a fairer and more prosperous wellbeing economy for Scotland.

We are assessing and prioritising the report’s proposals and preparing our response, which I hope to publish in due course.

Thank you. The “Pathways” report was published in February, and it identified 31 ways to dramatically increase female participation. The then First Minister said that the Government would respond quickly to those recommendations, yet when the new First Minister spoke about his Government’s priorities, he did not mention the review at all. Although the cabinet secretary has indicated that we can expect a response soon, I would like to know when we can expect it and when the recommendations will be taken forward, including with regard to the need for a women’s business centre.

I thank Claire Baker for that question and for her work on the committee and the cross-party group for women in enterprise. We have a huge economic opportunity before us, if we can close not just the gender pay gap and the gender employment gap but the gender gap that exists in new enterprises being established in Scotland, which is pertinent to the question.

Of course, we will respond to the report as quickly as possible. We also have a commitment to the women’s business centre, so I am very excited about the opportunity for us, if we can close the gap and ensure that we are giving women the opportunity to get on in business.