Chamber and committees

Just to be clear, are you saying that there will be no export trade from that hub?

Has that been factored into your plans for the future?

Apparently it did not. When we were discussing this with the previous panel members, they did not seem to me to have a very clear idea of where the new import hub would fit in with the green freeport. I would have hoped that there was an opportunity there, as much as anything else. It just seemed a wee bit vague. I am not sure whether you heard that part of the discussion, but I would have hoped for something a little more positive.

Will the market extend south of the border to England?

I am interested in the expectations with regard to the size and scope of the hub. You have indicated that it will serve domestic markets in the northern part of the UK, but I presume, then, that the expansion opportunities will be limited to a certain extent.

We have touched already on the Forth green freeport, but I am still not clear how the hub is going to impact it. Is the hub going to channel any of its business through the freeport? What consideration has been given to how any opportunities could be developed?

Cabinet secretary, how does the planned change to import activity align with the aims of the green freeport policy? Are you satisfied that that change would represent the type of additionality that the policy was intended to encourage?

I would like to pick up on one or two points from our discussion. You said that the expectation is that what might be payable on pensions will be lower in the future, presumably because of bond yield changes and so on. I presume that the accounting for that will simply be a reduced contribution.

Several references have been made to the audit modernisation project, which is part of your strategic improvement programme. The commission would be interested to learn more about that if you are able to supply us with details that would give us better and more in-depth information.

As members have no other questions, I thank Stephen Boyle, Alan Alexander, Martin Walker and Stuart Dennis for attending the meeting.