Chamber and committees

The illustration, however, was that the surge was about long Covid.

That was quite a low bar.

May I ask about long Covid?

I have a final question, convener. Can I clarify—

To achieve that, given what you know about our national performance framework, is a further level of detail required, certainly for public display, or is the broad detail that is in it sufficient?

You appear to be saying that the framework is good and there is a sufficient level of detail in it, but the link with the budget is missing. Is the position similar in other OECD countries or are we an outlier?

It was not sweeping at all.

I think that Jim Fairlie is going to pick that up now.

How is Scotland’s national performance framework linked to policy decisions, if it is at all?

I will be very quick. This is slightly disjointed, but I want to go back to the stat about the economically inactive. I think that you would accept that there was a massive surge in the previous year and that, on Tuesday, there was a small reduction in the stats on what had been a very high number.

My question is actually about the national performance framework, which—I think that we agree—reflects the outcomes that we want to achieve but is not linked to the budget. I understand that you are planning a refresh of the NPF this year. Will you commit to taking that opportunity to link the two and to generate the additional data that is required so that your money goes to what you say your priorities are? That would be a significant step forward.