Chamber and committees

Also under agenda item 7—I jumped ahead too quickly—no points have been raised on the following four instruments.

Thank you very much, Deputy First Minister, and thanks very much to Craig Hoy. My computer fell out for a bit, so I missed some of the excitement of the past 20 minutes. We can move on now to Paul Sweeney.

Is your microphone on?

Thank you, Ms Rayner. Are you happy with that, Graham Simpson?

The next item of business is to decide whether to take item 8 in private. Is the committee content to do so?

No member has indicated that they are not content or that they wish to speak, so we are agreed.

We move to agenda item 3. Today, we are taking evidence from John Swinney, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery, as part of the committee’s inquiry into use of the made affirmative procedure during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Deputy First Minister is accompanied by three Scottish Government officials: Rachel Rayner, deputy legislation co-ordinator, Scottish Government legal directorate; Elizabeth Blair, unit head, Covid co-ordination; and Steven Macgregor, head of the Parliament and legislation unit. I welcome you all to the meeting. We are very grateful that you are able to attend virtually today. I remind all attendees not to worry about turning on their microphones during the session, as they are controlled by broadcasting.

In a moment, I will invite the Deputy First Minister to make some opening remarks. The procedure will be slightly different today, as we have agreed that each member will ask a series of questions, to be followed by another member and so on. There will not be so much back and forwards as normal—members will ask a run of questions.

The first member to ask questions is Graham Simpson. Oh, I beg your pardon—I am too excited. Deputy First Minister, would you like to make some opening remarks?

I will let Graham Simpson in for one last word.

Thank you, Mr Simpson. We move to questions from Craig Hoy.

Rachel Rayner’s name has been mentioned. Would you care to make a contribution?

I think that we have reached our next stage. I thank the Deputy First Minister and his officials Elizabeth Blair, Steven Macgregor and especially on this occasion, Rachel Rayner, who made some helpful comments. I thank you all for your helpful evidence.

As has been suggested, the committee might follow up by letter with any additional questions that stem from the meeting. Will that be acceptable, Deputy First Minister?