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Yes—it leads on to my question. The “Diversity Delivers” strategy is important and was the first equal opportunities strategy on ministerial appointments. I understand that a change to primary legislation is needed if it is to be updated. What process would that entail?

Thanks for that.

Convener, I seek your guidance, and we can probably get guidance from the clerk as well. I attended the first meeting of the CPG on independent convenience stores, but not as an office bearer. I arrived at the meeting late and was not party to the discussions. However, we should probably take a view on whether I should take part in this discussion—I want to check that.

The second point that I want to make, before we get on to the discussion, is about our own role in CPGs. We will all be involved in various CPGs—maybe as members, maybe as conveners—and I think that, for the clarity, openness and transparency of this committee going forward, it would be good to discuss our own positions as either conveners or members of CPGs and to have guidance on that.

You do not want facetious complaints coming in. If there is that feedback to members of the public, and if they understand it, that is an important part of the service.

Thank you for that. I have a supplementary question. Is there a formal process in place for new board members to give feedback on their induction and their on-going training? Is there a stage—after, say, three months, six months or a year—when they can feed back and, if the feedback is positive or negative, that can be amended or changed? Is there a formal process whereby board members have that opportunity?

I have a little bit more to discuss and ask you about in this area. The changes to the code have been in place since late 2019, but the revised act was passed only last year. I think that you touched on the question of whether the changes to the code resulted in an increase in the number of cases. Do you think that the 2021 act will result in a further increase in the number of cases?

Thank you, convener. It is good to see you back again, Ian. This leads on from a question that was asked last week about the revisions to the “Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland”. Will the revisions support the improvement of training and support? In what way do you think they will do that?

I have a quick supplementary question. You mentioned the third sector and talked about collaborative working between the Scottish Government and COSLA. What is the role of third sector interfaces, and what is your relationship with them? I know that that will probably vary throughout the country but, generally, could there be closer working? What is your view of the relationship between TSIs and COSLA?

I, too, refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests—I am a councillor in East Lothian.

Cabinet secretary, you mentioned local government’s role in economic recovery and building community resilience, which, of course, is vital. Will you comment on COSLA’s “Blueprint for Local Government”, which was published last year, particularly its call for

“Longer-term certainty in relation to budgets, allowing a focus on early intervention”

and

“prevention”?

Thank you.