Chamber and committees

In your view, would a court give greater impetus for compliance?

We move on to the issue of air quality and back to Mark Ruskell.

Agenda item 3 is consideration of a draft statutory instrument. For this item, I am pleased to welcome Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity. As this is the first time that the minister has appeared before us in his new role, I take the opportunity to congratulate him on his appointment. We look forward to working with you, minister.

Thank you for that, minister.

We now move to questions, the first of which comes from me. In setting out the content of the order, you said that the reimbursement rate for the older and disabled persons scheme has been reduced by 0.9 per cent. Can you reassure the committee that that level of payment is sufficient to cover the costs that operators will incur in providing concessionary travel?

Minister, I note that you said in a previous answer that that will be reviewed on a monthly basis.

Bob Doris has a supplementary question. Mr Simpson, are you happy for me to let him in now, before you come to your next question?

Minister, just for the record, could you detail what you are reading from?

Okay. Thank you.

Final question, Mr Simpson.

Minister, as with Mr Simpson’s previous related question, I am happy for you to answer now but, if you want to follow up in writing, that would be perfectly reasonable.

Can you let the minister respond, please?