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The information that is received in response to that will be very helpful. The terms and conditions, and the wider contractual duties, of the profession absolutely represent another significant concern for the Government. I know that one trade union does not support any further obligations being placed on teachers—for example, to undertake overnight stays—in relation to the bill.

I am glad to have been able to highlight that issue, and I think that the committee needs to consider it. If that issue has been covered in the correspondence to those local authorities, it will be useful to see what comes back in that respect.

The terms and conditions would be for the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers to consider. I might have to bring in officials on the analysis of such provision over that time period.

Yes, and I hope that I have made clear to the committee today how positive I am about some aspects of the bill. I certainly have done so in my discussions with Ms Smith to date. I have made it very clear that we are supportive of the aims of the bill, but that drastic considerations need to be taken into account, on issues such as capacity.

I am clear that the Government is very thoroughly scrutinised on finances, so we need to consider the gaps in the projected costs and estimates for the final cost of the bill. I am neutral at the moment but, with regard to where we go from here, I am interested in seeing the evidence and how the discussion takes place.

I have already spoken about the significant investment in the capital estate that has transformed school environments and playgrounds to allow for a wide variety of outdoor learning experiences. I will perhaps bring in Saskia Kearns to speak to some of those points.

Do you mean the communication and engagement to date?

I do not have those numbers to hand, but I know that some sectors, such as sports agents and talent scouts, will be able to use the PVG scheme only from 1 April 2025, so some areas are targeted specifically. In answer to your question about how many people are working with children, young people or adults, but should not be doing so, I do not have those figures to hand, but I have an awareness of the areas that will be targeted.

Mr Mason raises an important point about providing children and young people with choice and flexibility with regard to the experience that they want to have, and I acknowledge Mr Mason’s point that children from rural areas might have had more outdoor experiences than those from more urban areas.

The issue of how that would be addressed by the bill is something that has come up in my discussions with Ms Smith. I know that she recognised in her evidence that residentials are not necessarily for everyone. If there were ways to work with Ms Smith on that or, depending on the outcome of the current stage, amend the bill in those ways, it would be important to do so.

I accept the evidence around the positive impacts of the residential experience. I do not know whether that evidence can be directly compared with, for example, outdoor nurseries. From my experience, I think that a child’s experience of being outside, planting plants and flowers, digging holes and all the rest of it, can have real benefits over a sustained period, even if it is one hour a day for two months. That is what I have heard from those with first-hand evidence, and that is what I am speaking to today. I am not comparing the two approaches; I am saying that there are clear benefits from both.

Our position is neutral on the bill. We are looking to the committee’s scrutiny to direct where we go following that.

That is an important point. The Scottish Government’s vision is to ensure that all children and young people can have equal access to positive and creative outdoor learning experiences.

Again, one problem with the financial memorandum is that costs for children with additional support needs are not factored in. At the moment, we do not necessarily know how well outdoor centres are equipped to support children with additional support needs, and we do not know the full extent of what would be required. That is a key consideration in relation to Ms Dunbar’s point about ensuring that all children have access to residential outdoor education. I would invite the new strategic working group to take those considerations into account. That will be important in its work.

On the member’s point, I would emphasise that there is a risk in that regard. It is important that all children and young people could benefit from this provision, if the measures were implemented.

As we spoke about earlier, outdoor learning centres might not be what is best for all children and young people with additional support needs. It is about having choice and it is about equity.

Again, I highlight the concerns that I have about the financial memorandum not factoring in children with additional support needs. As I said, in previous evidence sessions, issues around capacity have been raised, as has the need for adaptations. Those are very important issues going forward.