Chamber and committees

I think that you have probably answered my question about the flexibility. I was going to ask you whether, within the free trade deal, this is one way of ensuring that New Zealand can export multiple grape varieties, which it probably does not do at the moment. The main varieties are probably Pinot Noir, Merlot and Sauvignon—we have a great taste for those in the UK—and there is the issue of the alcohol content, too. I assume that, as you say, this provides flexibility.

However, within a free trade agreement, surely it also removes the burden of labelling and provides help with that to allow greater choice, which provides flexibility. I presume that that makes a great free trade deal and that that is one of the negotiations that they had. Weather might also affect the grape variety and the alcohol content.

Good.

Is there a geographic pattern in that, and is that taken as a whole when making calculations?

That is exactly the answer that I envisaged you would give. I love the description of the agricultural payments dovetailing with all the other things that are happening.

I will use my constituency as an example. The Hawick flood risk management scheme was funded only to a certain point. Residents who live beyond that point still get their houses flooded, and the scheme is not bringing the whole community within the project. If it had extended from the Teviot to the summit, things would be different, but it was confined by resource, unfortunately. I think that that is exactly what you have just described. A whole load of things need to be involved, such as the national planning framework 4, planning applications, investment in flood risk management and the agricultural payments system.

I did in a broad sense—a broadband sense, perhaps. It is fine—I can leave it. I think I have made my point, and I can follow the matter up if I need to.

On the theme of access, we know that 100 lawyers and 40 legal aid firms have quit the legal aid system, and we know that, since 2007, the Scottish Government has reduced the budget by £65 million. We have talked about resources and the recruitment and retention of staff, and there are lots of solutions to such issues, but can the Scottish Government do more within its legislative competence or regulatory powers to address those issues?

I will perhaps go to Jim Stephenson first, because I know that the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association has been very critical of the latest legal aid settlement, which it has said does not go far enough in addressing recruitment and retention issues.

The Shelter briefing talks about digital exclusion. I represent a rural area and obviously, in rural areas, broadband can be unreliable. What is the impact of facing digital exclusion on individuals, in relation to access to legal aid?

Do you want Pam Duncan-Glancy to come in?

Jen Ang, when you talked about levers and mechanisms, were you talking specifically about funding models and early intervention?

Do you want me to ask my other question very briefly, convener? It is just to Fiona McPhail.