Chamber and committees

That would be helpful, too.

We have a problem with Michelle Thomson’s connectivity. I will give it another few seconds.

I will invite Murdo Fraser to ask his questions and come back to Michelle Thomson.

It is imminent. It has been for a while.

Colin Smyth, do you wish to ask a question before we close?

Thank you very much. That brings us to the end of this morning’s session. I thank Professor Roy and Professor Bell for their evidence. We now move into private session.

Our next item of business is an evidence session with the enterprise agencies and Visit Scotland, which will inform the committee’s pre-budget consideration.? Each agency has provided a written statement, which members have.

I welcome: Stuart Black and Nick Kenton, respectively the chief executive and finance director of Highlands and Islands Enterprise; Jane Morrison-Ross and Anthony Daye, respectively the chief executive and director of finance and corporate resources of South of Scotland Enterprise; and Vicki Miller and Ken Neilson, respectively the director of marketing and digital and director of corporate services of VisitScotland.

We have six witnesses today, so members and witnesses are asked to keep questions and answers as concise as possible. I have asked members to direct their questions to one person from each organisation, and I ask that person to reply and to bring the other person in only if they feel that there is additional information that they cannot provide.

Today’s focus is on the budget. Last week, Parliament was given the programme for government and the in-year financial statement. The Government is prioritising tackling child poverty and all parties agree that part of the solution to that is to grow our economy.

We understand that the Government is under significant financial pressures, but all three organisations that are represented here this morning have had fairly significant cuts to their budgets. Can you tell us what impact the funding pressures that you are facing this year, and those that you have faced in recent years, are having on your ability to deliver on your core objectives to support the regions and Scotland in growing the economy?

I come first to South of Scotland Enterprise—you can decide between you who wants to lead on that.

I come to Highlands and Islands Enterprise next.

Murdo Fraser and Colin Smyth have some questions.

I call Kevin Stewart, to be followed by Gordon MacDonald.

I call Gordon MacDonald, to be followed by Willie Coffey.