Chamber and committees

It is a recognised term in the legislation; it is not a judgment.

My understanding is that you could do both—we would welcome them both. However, one or the other would be helpful and would ease the situation for people.

I have a final question before I bring in Evelyn Tweed. The minister talked about unintended consequences. Has any consideration been given to whether increasing the bank account protected level from around £650 to £1,000 has had any adverse consequences or presented any challenges? I appreciate that there are differences between earnings and bank accounts.

That brings us to the end of our evidence-taking session. I thank the witnesses very much for their contributions this morning.

Yes—if it is a brief question.

I have a final question that, unfortunately, brings us back to data. The Scottish Government has put in place, I think, a 10-year fund, so it is quite long term, and under the indicators that you have established, we might not see any progress until quite far down the line. Do those long timescales present any challenges with regard to holding Governments to account and ensuring that they show that progress is being made where it should be? Will there be any flexibility in that respect? Do you anticipate our needing to refresh indicators or to look at different ones as we move through the time period?

Thank you, minister. I acknowledge your apology regarding the consultation on the proposals for the mental health moratorium. The delay has made it more difficult for the committee to scrutinise the provisions in some ways. I appreciate that you have confirmed that we will receive the regulations in draft form. Is there a timescale that you can share with us for when we can expect those to appear?

Agenda item 2 is the fourth evidence-taking session in our inquiry into a just transition for the north-east and Moray. We will hear from three co-ordinators from the University of Aberdeen’s just transition lab on the findings of its multidisciplinary investigation “Just Transition for Workers and Communities in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire: Indicators and Scenarios”.

I welcome—I am going to get this wrong—Dr Daria Shapovalova, senior lecturer in energy law; Dr John Bone, senior lecturer in social sciences; and Professor Tavis Potts, dean for environmental sustainability and researcher in geography, University of Aberdeen. If members and witnesses could keep their questions and answers as concise as possible, that would be helpful.

I invite Dr Shapovalova to briefly introduce the research that the just transition lab has conducted.

Thank you—that is helpful.

Good morning, and welcome to the 30th meeting in 2023 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. Our first item of business is the final evidence session on the Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.

I welcome Tom Arthur, the Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance, who is joined by Richard Dennis, the accountant in bankruptcy and agency chief executive, and James Clelland, solicitor with the Scottish Government. I also welcome Douglas Lumsden MSP, who is attending the public part of this meeting.

I invite the minister to make a short opening statement.

I ask for a brief answer as well.