Chamber and committees

I am sorry that I am not able to be with you in the room this morning. I am interested in following up on Liam Kerr’s question. Audit Scotland highlighted that four colleges were at potential risk of collapse. I would like an update on those four colleges. I understand that you will not be able to name them, but can you give us an indication as to what work is being done? Also, is their future secure?

But you do not have immediate concerns that something dramatic is going to happen between now and then. If you did, you would have reported on that.

Does David Belsey have a view on this? Have you had any secret intelligence that means you can reassure us that those institutions are okay?

Two thirds?

I want to follow that theme for a few minutes. Do you think that universities have the ownership of intellectual property right when it comes to spin-outs, licences and so on? Are they feeling the financial pressure to raise money for the institution, or are they setting things free to allow them to be much more beneficial to the wider economy? That is my first question.

Secondly, are you finding growth in the wider ecosystem? Basically, are graduates who have set up their own businesses staying in the area and contributing to the further development of their former institutions in an entrepreneurial way?

I would like you to talk a little bit more about the co-design process. Who and how many did you consult? Were they able to substantially engage? Do you think that you reached all parts of the young people community, if we can call it that? People obviously have a variety of different needs and priorities. How did you capture everyone?

Are you transferring any of your learning from this process to the adults’ complaint process?

We do celebrate success in this place, but equally we are here to try to solve problems. Where do you think the strategy is not working, and why is that?

I am quite happy. I know that other members have questions on this topic.

You have made a number of recommendations. Which one is least progress being made on?