Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thanks for your comments so far; they have been really helpful. My question follows on from Pam Gosal’s and is about having a specific outcome on gender inequality. If there was one, what indicators would you want to flow from that? I will go to Catherine Murphy first.

Good morning. Will the bill ensure that the inspectorate is sufficiently independent from the Scottish ministers? I put that to Anne Keenan in the first instance.

Good morning, and thank you for all your answers so far. I direct this question to Gillian Hamilton. How will the greater independence of the inspectorate change its approach? What might that look like?

I will follow up on that. To what degree should a future independent chief inspector be able to determine the purpose of, and approach to, inspections?

Should the new inspectorate retain the current powers of inspection of funded early learning and childcare?

Hyo, do you have anything to add?

Patrick, you talked about the requirement to pay the fees in advance, and you said that it would be better if they were paid at the end. Do you think that such a change would have any impact on the finances of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service?

Good morning, and thank you for your answers so far. Julie touched on the current exemption from court fees for environmental cases. Would it be worth looking at other types of cases that might be worthy of a similar exemption, given your comments about the limited nature of the existing exemptions?

Would anyone else like to come in?

I put this question to Professor Muir, so I will put it to you as well. Will the proposals in the bill ensure that there is an appropriate level of independence for the inspectorate? I go to Professor Priestley first.