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That is a rather heroic attempt to talk the issue away, but let us carry on.

What engagement have you had with Audit Scotland? We have bounced around the idea of governance, which is important, and you have said that there should be scrutiny of the effectiveness of spending. What agreements have you made with Audit Scotland that are in the public domain and that you can share with us today about how you will be accountable to Audit Scotland for your spend in Scotland?

That will be the case only if people can compare apples with apples, and that is precisely my point about the methodology, which was called so wrongly in relation to transport connectivity. I again make the point that you could have spoken to the Scottish Government in the first place, and it would have pointed that out.

I want to quote from my local council, which is Falkirk Council. On the delays, it notes:

“there was increasing concern over damage to reputations, of the applicants, the Council and the UK Government, such was the lack of engagement by the UK Government”.

You will probably be aware that that local council won some money, although it also comments that it felt that the approach involved

“cherry picking a small number of high-profile projects.”

What will you do specifically to engage effectively, primarily with the Scottish Government, here today in the Scottish Parliament? What are you going to do differently?

At what point? Will that be after it is a done deal?

Good morning, everybody. I apologise—I am remote, but I hope that you can hear me okay.

I want to ask a couple of general questions, to which I will take answers from all of you. The committee continues to be interested in how women specifically in your sector have been affected by the pandemic. Do you routinely disaggregate and collect data on the specific impact on women? What are your observations on how they have been affected? What are your thoughts on how that could be rectified? Perhaps Marc Crothall would like to answer those general questions first.

Thank you for that. If any of the three of you have any data, please send them to us. According to statistics that we have seen, for example, women-led businesses have decreased from 21 per cent in 2017 to 14 per cent just now. It might well be that this particular sector is slightly exceptional, but it would be useful to know that and to start to understand some of the themes involved.

Good morning. I am aware of time, so I have just a couple of questions. First, with regard to the status of phase 1 projects, I am aware that two are at amber—destination net zero and the Scottish tourism observatory. Before I go on to another question, I want to get a sense of the current status and rationale and any further thoughts about those projects. That question goes to whoever is the most appropriate person to answer.

Finally, do you want to put anything else on the record in relation to your comment about there being no easy investment solutions? A lot of what we have seen has been exacerbated by the pandemic and, if you like, the flow of funds.

Do you have anything to add, Vicki? I know that Rob Dickson and I were focusing on capex and the inability to carry that forward, although I also know that you can carry forward revenue. Is there anything more that you want to say about investment before we move on? I am aware that time is of the essence.

Stephen and Leon, in no particular order, could you answer the same question?

Is it not the case that, given the high proportion of women in tourism and hospitality already, you are already well versed in some of the flexible working practices that have now been introduced in other sectors? After all, women often have to juggle multiple elements in their lives. Would that be true?