Chamber and committees

Thank you. Deputy convener, can I ask one more question?

Why are there such long waits between appointments? I put that question to anyone who would like to comment.

Okay, so are there no issues in culture or leadership?

Good morning, panel. My first question is to Professor Archibald. I am really interested in your A and E figure—91 per cent is fantastic. Can you share with us how that works? Sandesh Gulhane asked a related question earlier. Are you sharing your learning with other boards?

Female pundits can often get a lot of criticism and horrific backlash—for example, about the way in which they have presented or what they have said. When that happens, how do you support them? What do you have in place to protect them?

The Council of Europe’s report “Gender Equality in Sport and the Role of Media” found that female athletes are often

“portrayed in stereotypical, comical, sexualised and sexist ways”

in the media. The report noted that that portrayal impacts negatively on female participation in sport. What guidelines do you have in place to prevent that? What processes are in place if it does happen? Anyone can respond to that question.

Do you ever get it wrong? I take Bobby’s point—that you are not in line with the characterisation of the report—but do you ever get it wrong? Do the public ever tell you that you have got it wrong and they are not happy about it? If so, how do you deal with that?

I want to ask Louise Thornton about a point that she made, and my question also relates to what Margaret Mary Murray said. In evidence last week, some of the witnesses were supportive of your work and said that you have amazing coverage. Obviously, you have a collaboration going on. Louise Thornton said that there is a lot of output just now and that the numbers of people watching have increased. Is that the key thing? If the output is increasing, will more people watch?

Good morning to you all. I have enjoyed your contributions so far.

Respondents to our call for views said that they felt that there was little provision in elite sport for pregnant athletes or athletes who had had children. Does your sport make provision for those athletes? What more support could be provided?

I see Emma nodding—I am sorry; I mean Gemma.

Does anyone else want to come in?