Chamber and committees

Cabinet secretary, I will take you back to the uncomplicated days when you were the deputy convener of this committee. We agreed as committee members that the tripartite arrangement for ferries and procurement was broken, and we signed up to a “Ferries Scotland” principle—an amalgamation of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and Transport Scotland. Other people have suggested merging CMAL and CalMac Ferries. Which do you favour, and why have we not seen any progress on that?

It would be good if Mr Fairlie could drop the committee a line so that we understand what the position is and we can pass that on to Mr Simpson.

I am sorry, Kerry, but we are very short of time—

Thank you very much, cabinet secretary. The first questions will come from Monica Lennon.

The matter has been dealt with quite effectively in the petitions committee—its convener Jackson Carlaw was also on the Forth Crossing Bill Committee. I think that that committee will make some recommendations on oversight of the A9 work, which would then come back to this committee. We would then have to sit down and decide how to do it and what role we would want. I would hate to prejudge what the committee will decide—I know that I would get my knuckles rapped. I was not going to ask about the A9, but that does not stop me. Bob—do you want to come in?

Douglas Lumsden is going to ask another question. Then, I will call a five-minute comfort break before we go on to the next bit.

I have a quick-fire question on what is perhaps the Cinderella transport method. It is on Scottish Canals, which I think falls under your portfolio, although you are looking nervous, cabinet secretary.

Bob, the clerks have asked me to clarify that your declaration of interests relates to the fact that what you have asked about is in your constituency, and not that you are getting any financial benefit in any shape or form. Is that right?

If ScotRail comes to you with a figure, you have to sign it off. You have to say yea or nay.

We will move on to Bob Doris.