Chamber and committees

Do you mean your election to the commission next year.

What steps are you taking to avoid a repeat of what was clearly a failure in communications and in the relationship between the commission and the setting of the budget, and the interaction between the commission and the Scottish Government?

We will look at your evidence and at the supporting documents to which you have referred.

Thanks very much to both of you. I will start with a specific question on PPE supply chains. We have looked in awe at the growth in the domestic supply of PPE from zero to 88 per cent. That has been one of the more interesting consequences of the pandemic that we have been living through.

Can Mary Morgan tell us what the balance of trade is now? Are we still importing some PPE? If so, where from? The committee is also interested in whether, given the growth of the PPE supply chain in Scotland, we are in a position to supply international markets, including the lesser-developed parts of the world that perhaps need PPE at a time when we appear to have at least as much as we need or possibly even a surplus.

One of the other things that you mentioned in your opening statement was the Louisa Jordan hospital—a 300-bed facility with the option of expanding to 1,000 beds—which was set up in a rapid timeframe. One of the things that occur to me as we approach the pressures of winter is to ask what has happened to that equipment. Where have those beds and the rest of the supporting equipment gone? Can Mary or Caroline answer that question?

I call Sharon Dowey, after which we will move to Willie Coffey.

Good morning. I welcome everyone to the ninth meeting of the Public Audit Committee in the sixth session of the Parliament. Before we begin, I remind members, witnesses and members of staff that the Parliament’s social distancing rules are in force. If you are moving around, leaving or entering the room, please wear a face covering.

Our first item of business is to agree to take items 3 and 4 in private. Are we agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

David, do you want to introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about the organisation that you represent?

I am conscious of time and I want to move things on a bit. We are exploring some important areas and we want to hear about your experiences and views, as well as any lessons that can be drawn from what has been happening. Colin Beattie has a series of questions on that.

Thank you; that is a very useful introduction to our conversation. I know that Anna Fowlie and Pippa Coutts want to come in. Ryan Smart was mentioned by David, so I will bring him in whether he likes it or not. I go to Anna first.