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I am asking you to avoid the politics. What would be your message to the two Governments? Without going into specific details, what are the key things that you would like them to discuss?

You mentioned the funding gap. I think that £881 million was forecast, but that figure has dropped slightly. Is there any specific reason for that? That is probably a question for Professor Roy.

I will touch on forecast accuracy. You have highlighted that the forecast error went from 4 per cent down to 2 per cent, and you mentioned two factors. Could you say more about that? Looking at the years ahead, how difficult or how much easier will that process be? You have touched on how you assess Government policy when you look at this. How is that working? Could the Government work more closely with you in that regard? What is the relationship in that respect? I know that there is meant to be a process of stepping back, but could there be closer working between you and the Scottish Government on the forecast element of things?

Professor Roy, I want to bring you back to the point that you made at the start of the meeting about the fiscal framework. I am interested in your thoughts on the fiscal framework. Part of the issue relates to the complexity of the existing fiscal framework, and I know that there are on-going discussions between the Scottish Government and the UK Government on the matter. What are the commission’s asks from those discussions? Given what you said about part of the issue being about the fiscal framework, what would make your life simpler in relation to your work? What are your asks? Obviously, there is a lot for the UK Government and the Scottish Government to discuss in relation to social security and so on, but what changes to the fiscal framework would make things easier for you?

I have raised that issue with the committee, as other members know. It is very interesting and heartening to hear that.

Thank you, convener, and good morning.

I want to ask a bit more about SHR’s whistleblowing policy. I was contacted by an MSP colleague about a case, so I am interested to know what the procedure is if an allegation is made to you about an RSL. I understand that a full and independent investigation is conducted after an allegation. What is the process, and how many whistleblowing allegations have there been in the past two or three years?

I am not aware of the case; it is a general question.

I will perhaps pick that up offline. Thank you.

Thanks, minister. For the sake of brevity, that is fine.

I have looked at my areas and I know that there will be an impact. The fact that the payment is automatic and goes to more people is important. Just a few weeks ago, we were talking about a fixed budget. We would, of course, like to pay out more, but we operate within a fixed budget. Only a few weeks ago, in budget scrutiny, the committee voted against additional borrowing powers that would have given us the opportunity to have demand-led services and put our money towards such payments. We need to look at it in that regard.

The key thing for me, as I have said, is that it will benefit 400,000 people compared with 185,000 people. Previously, £8.3 million was spent; now, £20 million will be spent. It is not a perfect scheme. It is part of an overall package. We must look at the overall causes of why energy costs in Scotland are so high. We need powers to deal with that in Scotland. I will support the legislation.