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Does anybody else want to contribute?

Thank you, convener.

We could talk about this all day, to be honest, but I will move on and talk about implementation, which I know is not always a popular word. There has, I suppose, been more of a focus on applying and carrying through changes in education systems, and different models of change have been suggested, too. What are the panel’s views on how we best turn policy into practice?

I ask Janet Brown to start.

I suppose that it is about what we value.

Thank you, convener. I was previously an elected councillor at South Lanarkshire Council from 2016 to 2022, including being a member of the cabinet from 2017 to 2021.

Thanks. My colleagues will pick up on some of those points.

Thank you for coming along this morning. Mr Crothall, the Scottish Tourism Alliance published its local visitor levy manifesto in January this year, in advance of the bill. Does the bill measure up to that? To what extent has the Scottish Government taken your concerns on board? What have the engagement and consultation with the Scottish Government been like so far?

That is fantastic; you have already answered a lot of the second part of my question, which is about geographical areas. The previous panel felt that the levy should not be restricted and that that could be detrimental to being ambitious about developing other areas and alleviating pressures on existing ones.

On that point, is it central that councils involve communities as well as businesses in their consultations? I am wondering specifically about your area, Cathy Earnshaw, and it would be good to hear briefly from Gary Curley and Sarah Maclean what their thoughts are.

I have a short supplementary about the collection of data, and I will direct it to Rob Dickson. Is it not going to be necessary to collect data so that we have something that we can compare across local authorities? Increases in employment in tourism were mentioned as well as building the volume of visitors and so on. We could make that comparison and make improvements if there are bits that are not working within one authority that are perhaps working in another.

That is very helpful.

My next question is for Mr Thompson. I am aware that UKHospitality Scotland has consistently argued against the introduction of a levy. What alternative options do you think the Scottish Government should be exploring to support communities to fund the improvements in tourism infrastructure that are needed and to address the impacts of mass tourism? Do you have a view on, for example, the business improvement district model in Manchester?

Rob Dickson said that it is fundamental that local authorities do that consultation work. Would you like the committee to make any specific recommendations about the bill in that regard?