Chamber and committees

Are any other NDPBs or organisations in a similar position? Are there any others that are going through the system or that you are intending to bring in?

Engagement on the LCMs that we have here, plus a general meeting.

Could you update us on those discussions with the UK Government? What has been happening and when is the next planned meeting. What level is the meeting at? Is it at official level or ministerial level?

Audit Scotland will now have the opportunity to look at the SFT. Do you know what its plans are? Will it be up to Audit Scotland to decide whether to look retrospectively at previous accounts? How will it work?

We are looking at a number of LCMs today. Is it the intention that there will be engagement at ministerial level on those LCMs and perhaps more generally fairly soon?

I will put this to Marc Crothall first and then to Leon Thompson, if he wants to come in. It might seem to be a somewhat leading question. The STA has called for a pause on regulations that put increasing burdens on businesses at this time. Do you want to outline some of those regulations?

Can I come in on that? I live in Orkney and I know a number of people who run bed and breakfasts, some of whom are getting out of the sector. There has been a lot of confusion about the processes. There has been a disparity on cost. The proposal is meant to be revenue neutral, but quite clearly certain councils are charging more than others.

First, do you think that councils will be able to deliver the scheme, given the procedures and checks that have to take place by the deadlines? Also, what are your concerns for the sector? There being fewer B and Bs means fewer people being able to find accommodation. We already have problems with hotels, particularly in the Highlands and Islands, as we have experienced over the summer. Will that mean that there is less available space for people to come and spend money locally, at a time when tourism will be key for many of those communities?

The Scottish Government has just appointed a chief entrepreneur on considerable remuneration. You are struggling to get somebody who does the policy side. Who is the person in the Scottish Government—not at ministerial level but in the Scottish Government—who is there to push women-led and women-owned businesses and women in the workplace? Who is the most senior person doing that? Is there somebody specific?

Okay. I had better move on quickly to my main question, which is about the Highlands and Islands, and remote and rural areas. I think that skills will probably be part of this. What are the particular challenges that businesses and people who are looking to start up businesses face in those areas? I do not want to focus on the women’s business centre because I know that others will talk about it, but it would be a central location. How can we make sure that the experience and expertise there will be available to people across areas such as mine?

In terms of scrutiny by either this committee or other committees, will we see an on-going review, rather than just the review within five years? Will we have by, say, next year an indication of how things are performing?