Chamber and committees

In one year, corporation tax went from 19 per cent to 25 per cent and your tax went from £7 million to £158 million. That seems quite a large increase.

It seems a huge jump. Is it all down to that tax increase?

Page 164 shows that the operating surplus for Scottish Water has gone up by £20 million and that Business Stream has gone from loss to credit. Those changes involve some quite substantial figures. Can you expand on that? Again, I am happy to take a written answer.

Douglas, do you want to add anything?

I am sorry—I missed part of your answer. What increase was agreed in May?

Is it likely to be higher next year? Was that a one-off agreement for one year?

I presume that Scottish Water has given you an explanation about what projects it will be unable to deliver without those things that we have discussed. That is part of the discussion, is it not?

That was quite harsh.

Agenda item 3 is consideration of a piece of subordinate legislation. As the instrument has been laid under the negative procedure, its provisions will come into force unless the Parliament agrees a motion to annul it. At this stage, no motions to annul have been lodged.

Do members wish to make any comments on the instrument?

Does anyone else have any comments?