Chamber and committees

Thank you—that would be useful.

This morning, we have heard from Sir John Leighton about energy costs doubling, from Lucy Casot about the 30 per cent cut in budget, and from Alex Paterson that visitor numbers are just 60 per cent of pre-Covid levels.

As well as that context, there is the requirement to meet net zero, which has costs. There is a fantastic example at Holyrood lodge, which I visited earlier this year. Historic Environment Scotland has done some great work, but it is quite niche, and it is difficult to get contractors. Have you at least assessed the costs of achieving net zero through the building infrastructure? Thereafter, how on earth will we ensure that net zero is achieved?

To give Alex Paterson a break, I will start with Lucy Casot.

First of all, congratulations to “River City” for celebrating 20 years, and for showing a very entertaining and innovative anniversary episode—it was great to watch.

I want to make an interlinked point around impartiality. If we look at the four nations and people’s views on their preferred news source, there seems to be a clear differential between Scotland and Northern Ireland versus England and Wales. In England and Wales, the BBC is significantly ahead of ITV and ITV Wales as the preferred news source. That differential is flipped in Scotland, which I am clearly most interested in. What are your thoughts on that? Are those views reflective of content, or do they perhaps mirror those of society?

We have touched on this. I am conscious that there is a testing financial backdrop, but I am keen to get on the record how you are developing plans for capacity building in the regions, if you like—beyond Glasgow, and particularly around Dundee and Aberdeen.

Thank you. That is very useful.

I have a final quick question. Today, The Courier has reported that benches outside the McManus art gallery and museum in Dundee’s Albert Square have again been destroyed by vandals tearing strips of wood off the structures. Are there any instances of criminal activity or vandalism that you have had to cope with? I am expecting the answer to be that the level of such activities in your buildings is low or non-existent.

The written evidence that we have received on international approaches to census taking notes that the use of administrative data, as you have highlighted today, is ideally part of a process for quality assurance on the final census output. However, you have said that the use of administrative data in Scotland’s 2022 census will be central to the final quality of that census. As we have heard, that is necessary as a result of the low response rates for the census and the community coverage survey, which both missed their targets. Does relying on the use of administrative data in that way fall short of international best practice? Perhaps Professor Ian Diamond can start.

Thank you for that clarification and for your contributions.

Thank you. That is very helpful. Professor Martin, in an international context, is there any evidence that inclusion of what might be deemed controversial questions in the census has an impact on participation and completion of the survey?

Thank you. That is helpful.

Professor Sir Ian Diamond, have you any thoughts on that point?

We heard from COSLA that it has not received all the funding that it was promised, and Highland Council also submitted evidence to that effect. Can you confirm that that position has been rectified?