Chamber and committees

Thank you. I think that there is a slight problem with your sound. We could hear you, but it was a bit fainter than the previous witness’s sound.

It is slightly better.

Thank you, Mr Smith. I ask Professor Hunter the same question: what do you believe are the principles that underpin good-quality and effective legislation?

I thank the witnesses for their evidence and for giving us their time this morning. If you would like to raise any further evidence with the committee, you can do so in writing, and the clerks will be happy to liaise with you about how to do that.

I briefly suspend the meeting in order to allow a change of witnesses.

We continue to take evidence on the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) Scotland Bill. The second evidence session will focus on the bankruptcy measures in part 3 of the bill. I welcome our second panel: Abbey Fleming, the policy and communications lead at Money Advice Scotland; Jamie MacNeil of the money matters advice service and social work resources at South Lanarkshire Council; Emerita Professor Donna W McKenzie Skene of the school of law at the University of Aberdeen; and David Menzies, the director of practice at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. I offer a warm welcome to you all and thank you for giving us your time this morning.

Each member will have approximately eight minutes in which to speak to you and ask their questions. If you would like to respond to an issue that is being discussed, please type R in the chat box and I will try to bring you in. I apologise in advance—if time runs on too much, I may have to interrupt members or witnesses, in the interest of brevity.

As all our witnesses are participating remotely, I ask you all to introduce yourselves to the committee.

I think that we still have technical issues with Professor McKenzie Skene. I will bring you in to see whether we have resolved those issues.

I am sorry, but we will have to come back to you, because you are cutting out as a result of technical issues. I apologise for that. I will bring in David Menzies.

If we continue to have technical issues with Professor McKenzie Skene’s connection—

Professor McKenzie Skene, you have cut out again. I apologise for the technical issues. If we continue to have those issues, we can send you the committee’s questions and you can respond in writing.

Can I get your thoughts on that, Jamie?