Chamber and committees

Good morning, and welcome to the 20th meeting in 2022 of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee. I have received apologies from Maurice Golden. Our first agenda item is a decision on taking business in private. Are members content to take item 4 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

You mentioned the written submissions to the committee, and I thank you all for those—they were very helpful. I invite David Avery to answer the question.

Finally, we will hear from Julia Amour, the director of Festivals Edinburgh. Following that, members can ask supplementary questions.

I call Sarah Boyack—I am sorry that I did not bring you back in earlier.

I open with a question about criticism of the decision to delay the census. The committee has since heard a lot of evidence about it not being reasonable to compare National Records of Scotland with the UK Statistics Authority in terms of capacity, budget and where they were in their analysis of the data. Now that we have a better understanding of that, are you content that it was the right decision to make for the quality of the census?

I think that Mr Whitehouse wants to come in.

Mr Lowe, if you could raise your hand if you want to come in; I can see you on screen.

I move to questions from members.

As Jenni Minto mentioned you in her question, Janet, we will come to you next.

That is really interesting. I have seen the Parkinson’s project—a dance company came from New York. It is about the confidence that being able to move freely gives Parkinson’s patients. It is quite profound to see that in action.

Thank you. We have run out of time with this panel. We have another panel immediately after this. I thank the witnesses very much for attending and for their written and oral evidence. It has been profound.

I suspend the meeting to onboard new witnesses.