Chamber and committees

You can if it is very brief. We are getting short of time.

Before we close, I want to ask Gillian Cameron something. In the paper that you provided for us, you discuss “Insufficient lotting of contracts”. The issues that you identify under that heading include

“transparency on the reasons for not lotting a contract.”

Do you want to say a wee bit about that?

Thank you. That is this morning’s evidence session finished. I thank the witnesses very much for attending.

Thank you very much.

As always, I ask members and witnesses to keep their questions and answers as concise as possible. If members could direct their questions to the witnesses whom they would like to answer them, by naming them, that would be helpful for managing the meeting.

I will ask the first question. The purpose of the committee’s inquiry is to undertake post-legislative scrutiny of the 2014 act. We are interested in hearing witnesses’ broad reflections on the key changes in procurement in Scotland since the act was implemented. What are the greatest remaining challenges?

I ask Julie Welsh of Scotland Excel to comment first, then I will invite Peter Hunter of Unison to come in online.

Do you have a follow-up question, Mr Beattie?

Is it the Scottish Government that funds you?

Is the core funding from the Scottish Government?

Yes—I would like us to make progress. I will bring in Kevin Stewart.

I invite Gillian Cameron to comment on the website. The paper that you gave us talks about it being “confusing” for businesses to have two systems—PCS and PCST. You also comment on the need

“to mandate the use of PCS to advertise,”

which would benefit small businesses. Will you comment on that?

Are you supportive of making changes to the thresholds?