Chamber and committees

Did I get it right that you are reporting on the matter to Parliament, cabinet secretary?

Okay—thank you. That is probably as far as we can take it, as we have been given limited information. I know that the letter was quite detailed—although I am not sure how much detail I got into before this meeting—but we will have another chance to consider the matter.

Thank you, cabinet secretary—that was a fairly lengthy evidence session. We will be undertaking another evidence session and I am sure that, if anything comes up in that, you will be happy to respond to any questions that we may have as we move to produce our report. I also thank your officials for attending.

—Parliament goes into election recess.

Mark has a supplementary question on that issue. I reiterate Monica Lennon’s point that we would appreciate the mapping of the timescales for next year so that we can build in the 40 days for the subordinate legislation and the 120-day period, so that we can see where it is going to go. That would be helpful.

I remind all members and the cabinet secretary that short questions and answers are particularly helpful when I am trying to meet a deadline. We have lots of questions to go, and I want to get in all the committee members’ questions. Not to do so would be a failure.

Monica, I believe that I need to come back to you before I go to Mark Ruskell for some questions.

Okay.

I had another question about consultation and the feedback resulting from your publishing the bill. I am happy to park that question, however, considering the time.

I want instead to talk briefly about the letter that you submitted to the committee late last night. Correct me where I go wrong, but my reading of it is that a mistake occurred in December 2022 and you have picked it up in September 2024, and the change is relatively minor. Is that a poor synopsis, or is that correct?

You are not alone. Some clarity would be helpful.

The deputy convener is quite keen to come in and you might have a follow-up question after that.

So we should keep things simple. On that note, I leave that point, because we have had two opinions on it, and I will come to Monica because she has some questions—I am sorry, David, I cannot get you in on every question, but I will do my best.

Yes, “practical”.