Chamber and committees

You have made it clear that, in your discussions with the UK Government, you had to work within the parameters of that Government’s clear position. If you take that principle forward in future negotiations, how can you overcome the concerns that have been raised, or your own concerns, while still operating within those parameters?

Do you mean recommendations on how obstacles can be overcome or on what will not be workable from both sides and should be parked?

I do not know whether you are able to talk about this, but what kinds of internal discussions or consultations happen with your Government colleagues about these matters? Obviously, when it comes to the £31 million that is coming out of the rural affairs budget, that money is intended to be used for agriculture, rural communities and so on. As somebody who lives in, represents and is part of a rural community, I know that that significant sum would be very welcome in a lot of sectors in those areas. How do discussions on these matters happen?

When do you hope that the money will be returned to the portfolio?

Right. Okay. Thank you.

What about the economic benefits?

For many in the drinks and hospitality sectors, the experience of the DRS has just been talk of, “We will work with these key sectors,” and they would argue that that did not happen enough. Do you recognise that there might be some concern that additional costs will be placed on those sectors, which are already recovering from, first, the pandemic and, secondly, the fallout from the DRS and the investment that they had to make for that? Do you recognise that there will be concerns that this is just another open book on costs that they might have to meet? What confidence can you give them that this will really be of benefit to them?

You cannot tell them how much they will have to pay. As I said, many have already had to pay into and invest in the DRS. Some sectors will have to pay, but you are not able to tell them what they will have to pay.

I understand that, but, obviously, it had a role in the DRS and public money was invested in that. You are not aware of any projected role for the SNIB in this.

How closely is that money itself—the original source of funding, I suppose—linked to the uplift from the Bew review?