Chamber and committees

I am glad that we did not have a vote on gas boilers, because we in the Highlands do not see many of those.

Monica, do you want to come back in very briefly?

Thank you very much, David.

Yes, we can hear you perfectly.

Thank you.

I will bring in George Tarvit very briefly.

I am nervous, because the deputy convener has not asked her questions yet, and there is nothing like upsetting the deputy convener at your first meeting. If you will allow me to bring in the deputy convener, I might come back to you at the end of the session.

I am interested to hear whether Stephen Smellie agrees with you.

I am a little bit concerned that we are not running as fast as we should be with that.

The next questions come from Liam Kerr.

Thank you.

We turn to questions from Mark Ruskell.

Are you finished, Natalie?

Thank you very much, deputy convener.

As committee members will know, I have made a full declaration in the register of members’ interests, but I would still like to bring some key points to your attention.

First, I am a member of a family farming partnership that breeds pedigree cows and grows barley for whisky. That particular industry employs three people.

I have an ancillary property-letting business that lets cottages that used to be part of the farming enterprise. They consist mainly of old farm cottages.

I am also a partner in a family fishing business that fishes for wild salmon on the River Spey. That business, too, currently employs three people.

I get no financial benefit from any of the organisations of which I am a member, but I should say that I am a member of the National Farmers Union Scotland, the Scottish Gamekeepers Association and, through my previous profession as a qualified surveyor, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

I think that that is a full declaration. Of course, I will, like other committee members, declare any relevant interests at any future meetings.