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I have a question for Paul Bradley. Paul O’Brien talked about the role of local authorities in such work but, as the convener said, the role of communities is important, too. We need to build local communities’ capacity and confidence to deliver many of the changes that we are talking about. Is there sufficient understanding to build that capacity in the voluntary sector and scale it up to deliver those changes, working with local government and national Government?

Thank you for that extensive answer.

I will move on to the process of calculating total and ward councillor allocations. I know that Boundaries Scotland uses data for some of the councils—I know, for example, that you look at the Scottish index of multiple deprivation, which covers income, employment, education, health and so on. I would like a bit more explanation of that practice. Is that an appropriate basis on which to compare councils? What is the thinking behind it? It obviously determines councillor numbers. I would like to know more about the criteria and how you arrived at the calculations.

Likewise, I am a councillor in East Lothian Council.

I have a quick supplementary. Were you satisfied with the discussions before the criteria were set? Are there any lessons for the committee to learn in that regard? How quickly did the commission start the discussions with you before it moved on to the process? Do you have any comments on that, or were you satisfied with the process?

Did that issue come through in the consultation with the populations of the smaller islands? Did they mention the disparity between a one-member or two-member ward and a three-member ward in a similar geographical area?

Thank you for that—that was very extensive.

It does. That was very extensive.

I will start with a question for Maggie Davidson. What are your views on how Boundaries Scotland has applied the criteria for boundary reform during the review? You went into that quite a bit, and I do not know whether there is anything that you want to add to that. My other question is, what level of discussion did Boundaries Scotland have with you before the criteria were set?

I put the same question to Maggie Sandison.