Chamber and committees

I think that we do.

I have a few quick questions.

There has been an emphasis on the supply chain. One thing that we can do is change supply chains and stop imports. Let me give you an example of where that can be done and where we can take real opportunity from academic research that is being done in Scotland.

I think that Adrian Gillespie mentioned vertical farming. Obviously, that is a growing area. Berry farming is already huge in Scotland. We import a huge amount of coir, which is a coconut product, for vertical farming and berry farming. Meanwhile, academic research on the use of hemp is going on at the Rowett institute in particular.

How can we make sure that that academic research becomes a reality? What can you do to influence those changes in supply chains to ensure that we import less? That is much better from a net zero point of view, and it gives the opportunity for growth in Scotland.

I have a question for Jane Morrison-Ross and Stuart Black because you have both mentioned—others have, too—the lack of housing stopping growth. As a former housing minister, it annoyed me greatly that some of the councils in the areas that SOSE and Highlands and Islands Enterprise cover did not meet their planning assumptions, which meant that I had to take that resource away and give it elsewhere.

In those discussions with local authorities about the housing needs to boost the economy in certain places and to boost sustainable growth, do they listen to you or are you largely ignored?

I have a number of quick questions, but I can go after Maggie Chapman.

It would be interesting to hear more about that. If you could send me the detail, that would be wonderful.

This is my final question—it just needs a yes or no response. We realise the constraints in your budgets. We have growing inequalities in society. Will you do all that you can to ensure growth in the more deprived areas of our country and focus on getting rid of those social inequalities? We have heard some examples today.

Thank you very much.

I told you that I was playing devil’s advocate. As you know from previous encounters, I always do. You paint the scenario of one solicitor not being enough for Edinburgh Women’s Aid. Is there the opportunity between the 34 organisations that you represent to have a pool of people so that there is choice for women who may not want to go to one particular solicitor for whatever reason?

I am playing devil’s advocate here and I am thinking of a particular case that I was involved in many, many years ago where an individual thought that a solicitor was being thrust upon them. If a solicitor is associated with a particular charity, how do you deal with situations where some women may not want to use that solicitor? How do you get around that? Does that go back to the 50 calls to get a solicitor or what can we do to build up that trust?

It was not at all long-winded. You are right to highlight that what may work in some of the larger cities may not work elsewhere.

I am interested in what you have to say about access to telephone advice. Having experienced cases where some people who I have been dealing with have found it very difficult to access a solicitor at all, having that telephone line as a last resort is probably a good approach. Do you have any examples from anywhere in the country where solicitors have provided telephone services for some of your clients as a last resort?