Chamber and committees

I do not think that we will take much more from that discussion this morning.

Ms Forbes mentioned that the shift is about a step change in attitudes. Although we have all accepted that the Christie principles are the right way forward, progress has been really slow. The spending review figures are at level 2 because of inflationary pressures, so it would not be tenable to go further at this stage. The review is also outcomes focused. How will you measure the outcomes on preventative spend, wellbeing and the Christie principles?

I have a quick supplementary question about the stage that we are at, the changes after Brexit and building new systems. The Deputy Convener and I attended the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly in Brussels as observers. There is a meeting of ministers and the UK Government before that, but with the delegation made up solely of Westminster members of Parliament and members of the House of Lords, representatives of the devolved Parliaments attended as observers. No one was there from the Seanad because of Ireland’s electoral cycle. The Northern Ireland protocol absolutely dominated the two days of proceedings.

Is there a similar situation elsewhere to that of the PPA in which parliamentary or federal arrangements are not mirrored? At the pre-meeting between the UK Government and ministers, there was no way for us to contribute to or be involved in the discussions as devolved nations. How does that work in other areas?

I am afraid that we will have to call it a day on this agenda item. I thank all the witnesses for attending. It has been an interesting evidence session.

I close the public part of the meeting. We have a further agenda item in private, so I ask people who are not staying in the room for that to exit as quickly as possible. I am sorry to do that, but it is because of parliamentary timetables on a Thursday.

That is reasonable. The spending review, which we are discussing, does not go into the detail of Mr Golden’s question, so we look forward to getting that response.

Dr Allan has to leave us. Would you like to come in quickly before you do?

We are very quickly running out of time. We have only about five minutes left, so I will allow other witnesses to answer Stuart McMillan’s question, but I ask you to limit it not to one word but to one sentence.

Welcome to the 14th meeting in 2022 of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee. Under agenda item 1, does the committee agree to take item 4 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

I am not seeing any indications from the witnesses.

Thank you. Our next theme is the areas of disagreement between the UK and the EU with regard to the operation of the TCA. Perhaps we can also talk a bit more about the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly. Mr Golden is next.