Chamber and committees

Thank you. I think that Gordon Martin is having problems with broadband, so he is going to be audio only. Over to you, Gordon.

We cannot see you, but we can definitely hear you.

Actually, now we can see you—that is perfect. We can see and hear you. Good morning and welcome. I am happy to let you answer that question.

Okay. I will take that comment, but we will park it, because there is nothing that we can do about that, although I am sure that we all have strong views on the issue.

Monica Lennon has the next question.

So, do you feel that you are absolutely involved in the formulation of the plan

Can I just clarify something? Are you referring particularly to vessels 801 and 802, or do you mean all ferries?

Good morning and welcome to the 30th meeting in 2022 of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee.

First, I welcome Ash Regan, who joins us as a member of the committee. Ash replaces Natalie Don. On behalf of all members, I thank Natalie for her support, for her keen interest in all the issues that we have been dealing with, and for being—from a convener’s point of view—an easy member. I hope that all members of her new committee are as helpful to her as she was to me. I place that on the record.

As Ash Regan joins us for the first time, I invite her to declare any interests.

Before I bring in Gordon Martin, I want to build on something that Monica Lennon said. There will not be a single person around the table who would condone the activities that Martyn Gray is suggesting happen on boats. Regardless of how frustrating the situation is, everyone is entitled to a safe place of work. It is important to put that on the record. You have the support of the committee on that.

Has the situation become more acute in the past five years, or has abuse of staff always been a problem? It would be helpful if you could give a very short answer to that.

We are at the end of our time. Thank you for your input this morning and for all the evidence that you have given. Both of you have offered to submit further evidence to the committee, and we would really appreciate that, once you have had a chance to do it.

That concludes the public part of our meeting.

I will certainly let you answer that question, Gordon, and I am absolutely sure that, as a union representative, you are robust enough to comment on why you think that view is wrong. Perhaps we can have a quick answer, though, as I am not sure that the committee will be going too deeply into that particular question.

Thank you. We will move to questions from the deputy convener, Fiona Hyslop.