Seòmar agus comataidhean

Sorry, Diane, but I will stop you there, because we will have a line of questioning on that later in the evidence session.

I invite Paul O’Kane to take us on to theme 5—appointees.

Before I move on to theme 6, I apologise to Diane Connock, because I believe that she wanted to come on Bob Doris’s line of questioning. Do you still want to come in, Diane?

That is helpful. Apologies for missing that question earlier, Richard.

That concludes the evidence session. I know that it has been particularly long, so I thank all our witnesses. You have given us really useful content to support the scrutiny of the bill.

Next week, we will continue to take evidence on the bill, with a panel focusing on the concerns of specific groups of potentially vulnerable clients who would need support to navigate around the system.

That concludes our public business. We will now move into private to consider the remaining items on the agenda.

Good morning, and welcome to the seventh meeting in 2024 of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee. We have received no apologies today.

Our first item of business is a decision on whether to take agenda items 3 and 4 in private. Are we agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

Bob Doris would like to come in with a supplementary question.

That is helpful, Michael. That is noted.

Richard, I will stop you there. I am going to bring in Paul O’Kane, who will draw on that question.

I invite Jeremy Balfour to come in.

Thank you. I now bring in John Mason.