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As a follow-on, I suggest that one of the critical enablers for the utilisation of AI is sound collection of data. I fully accept what you say about the ethical use of such data, but how aware are you, as a council, of its being an enabler? You mentioned customer services, but that is almost looking at things the wrong way round. After all, the whole point of AI, which is driven by process, is that it blows up and breaks asunder a lot of the functions that we have already developed. How actively focused are you on collecting data as a minimum, given the massive processing power that AI can utilise off the back of that?

Are you taking active steps to develop a strategy—or even to conduct the research that will help frame such a strategy? Again, I am thinking specifically about how it might be utilised in public sector reform, which is all future focused. Where are you in developing your knowledge as a council?

Okay. Thank you.

I will bring in Iain Tough and then Malcolm Burr, and then I have a follow-up question.

Finally, I have a general question for all of you. What public sector reform guidance are you receiving from the Scottish Government to ensure that you include it? Are you grasping a sense of urgency from the Scottish Government that it is something that you need to look at? Have any conversations taken place?

Malcolm, I understand and appreciate that the scale of this will be markedly different for you.

Is that the same for all of you?

Yes.

Good morning, everybody, and thank you for joining us.

I will come to Robert Emmott first, as he is the only person to have mentioned AI thus far. Such is the exponential growth in the use of AI that change in that respect is likely to be foisted on the councils and, indeed, the Scottish Government. Given that we know that, what active consideration have you given thus far to how AI can assist public sector reform and, indeed, the general provision of your services?

I appreciate that it will be a slightly different question for Malcolm Burr, so, as I have said, I will come to Robert Emmott first. After all, Dundee is home to Abertay University, which is a leading light in the field. Can you give us a flavour of that, Robert?

Good morning. I want to explore three areas. The first is the equitability of the contribution of women, which is almost becoming a personal mission for me, having spent many years in various business roles and being up against all the barriers that we know about. As is my wont, I had a quick look at the bank’s distribution. I see that 42 per cent of board members, 33 per cent of executives and 28 per cent of investment leads are women. I do not know what the overall staff ratio is; perhaps you could enlighten me on that. What specific plans do you have to make things fair in that regard and to lead by example?