Bill Wilson MSP

Note:  The press release below (and the parallel one sent out nationally), and this one on Iraq, were mentioned in Douglas Fraser's blog. 

Dr Bill Wilson, MSP for the West of Scotland, this week congratulated various Renfrewshire businesses on their awards under the Green Tourism Business Scheme.  He listed the business after elaborating on his questions in the Scottish Parliament last Thursday on the subject of green and ethical business schemes and awards.

 “To take Renfrewshire as an example,” Bill said, “several businesses have done well under the Green Tourism Business Scheme.  The Lochwinnoch area deserves special mention as East Lochhead Cottages and RSPB Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve have gold awards and the Castle Semple Centre and Muirshiel Visitor Centre have silver awards.  In Inverkip, the Inverkip Hotel and the Cornalees Centre both have silver awards.  In Port Glasgow, Newark Castle has a silver award.  In Paisley, the Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport has a silver award and the Ramada Glasgow Airport a bronze one.  In Erskine, the Erskine Bridge Hotel has a silver award.  I may have missed one or two, and I am aware of other Renfrewshire businesses awaiting grading.  I congratulate them all, and I suggest that if people are looking for good places to visit they could do worse than start at the Green Tourism Business Scheme website.”

In the course of questioning the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism, Jim Mather, during last Thursday’s “Finance and Sustainable Growth”-Themed Question Time, Bill had suggested that the criteria used by ethical and green business schemes and awards might form a basis for setting business rates.

Bill’s latest questions follow his December questions to John Swinney, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, on the “Social Return on Investment” (SROI) tool, a new approach to measuring the performance of businesses which quantifies the impacts of business missed by traditional economic approaches, converting previously intangible social benefits, for example, into monetary equivalents.

Speaking this week, Bill said, “Economic growth that does nothing to help close the shocking national and global gap between haves and have-nots, or to lessen our burden on the environment, is immoral and unsustainable.  With global warming and major biodiversity loss staring us in the face, and Scotland’s terrible performance with regard to relative poverty, health and longevity, we should be examining every possible way of encouraging and promoting those businesses that operate in socially responsible, ethical and environmental ways.  One way of doing this would be to reward businesses that can demonstrate that they make a real contribution to society’s long-term wellbeing by reducing their business rates.

“I am pleased by Jim Mather’s statement that schemes such as the green tourism business scheme should have greater publicity, and by the fact that he encourages Scottish companies to seek recognition under such schemes.  I would be delighted were the Scottish Government to investigate the feasibility of using some of the criteria employed by such schemes to adjust business rates (something Mr Mather said was an “interesting idea”).  The SROI tool I mentioned to John Swinney in December last year shows great promise.  It may well be there that there is synergy here — between the SROI tool and the ethical and green business schemes and awards.  The best minds of our age should be focussed on such matters.”

“In the meantime,” he concluded, “let me pay tribute again to the many local businesses that have done well in the Green Tourism Business Scheme.  It is possible to enjoy oneself locally with a clean, green conscience.”

Notes to Editors

1.  Full Text of Questions and Answers re Environmental and Ethical Schemes (Business) on 31 January 2008

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of Scottish, United Kingdom, European and international schemes and awards designed to recognise or support businesses that achieve excellence with regard to environmental and ethical criteria, such as the CommunityMark programme of Scottish Business in the Community and the green tourism business scheme. (S3O-2093)

The Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism (Jim Mather): I am aware of a wide range of schemes and awards, including CommunityMark; the green tourism business scheme; vision in business for the environment of Scotland; the Carbon Trust's low-carbon building award; and environmental management systems. I encourage Scottish companies to seek suitable recognition in those areas. The Scottish Government welcomes activities that seek to raise awareness and understanding in the business community through the promotion and recognition of best practice in order to encourage action.

Bill Wilson: Will the Scottish Government consider varying business rates according to companies' performance, as measured by some or all of the criteria that have been adopted by those schemes and awards—for example, by rewarding companies for complying with the Government's objective of reducing greenhouse gas production?

Jim Mather: That is an interesting idea, but on the table at the moment are pragmatic reasons why measures such as the green tourism award allow Scottish businesses to appeal to the discerning visitor, create a climate for repeat and regular visits, lower costs and increase margins and turnovers. Such incentives are in place as part of an effective market and I am keen for them to have more publicity so that more people want to take part in them and see the advantages of doing so.

2.  Bill Wilson’s Question re “Social Return on Investment” Tool

http://www.billwilsonmsp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=117&Itemid=40

3.  Examples of Ethical and Green Business Awards and Schemes

Green Tourism Business Scheme

http://www.green-business.co.uk/

CommunityMark programme of Scottish Business in the Community

http://www.sbcscot.com/programmes/marketplace/communitymmark

Hilton Environmental Awareness Award
http://www.businessawardsforscotland.com/nbascategories/index.cfm?ccs=329&cs=1017

European Business Award for Corporate Sustainability
http://businessawardseurope.com/html/2007%20Winners/AXA/index.html

World Business Green Business Awards
http://www.haymarketevents.com/awards/?fuseaction=eventIntro&eventID=2984