Chamber and committees

Thank you very much. Now everyone’s hands are going up. I call Monica Lennon, to be followed by Bob Doris.

Indeed. We are slightly hamstrung by that date, and we also do not know whether the questions from committee members will be answered satisfactorily enough so that they feel no need to have an evidence session on 29 October.

I am afraid that I see no way round it. I know that there are all sorts of problems with this. It is not my intention to put this to a vote, but we have a situation in which three members appear to be uncomfortable with things; I have not disclosed my position; and there appears to be three members who are relatively comfortable with it.

I think that this would be an apposite moment to suspend the meeting for five minutes to allow us to get ready for the next panel.

George, are you happy?

In one area, you can jump on a bus and get to where you want to go to, and in one you would be driving for 35 minutes to get to somebody you need to see.

Thank you for clarifying that. Sorry, Mark.

George is desperate to come in on this.

Douglas Lumsden has some questions.

It sounds like you are talking yourself into producing a 60-page report on the carbon footprint of imported chicken—but maybe not.

Thank you, cabinet secretary. That was a helpful session, and I thank you and your officials for coming along. We will now move into private session.