Seòmar agus comataidhean

We would welcome that very much.

Fergus, could you ask a question so that we can move on or are we going to go back to—

My second question may lead you to repeat some things that you have already said, but it is useful to get this on the record. In your evidence, you call into question the lawfulness of the bill under article 15 of the ECHR. Why did you say that?

Good morning, and welcome to the seventh meeting in 2022 of the Education, Children and Young People Committee. The first item on the agenda is evidence on the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.

We will take evidence from two panels of witnesses. Our first panel consists of Paul Little, the vice-chair of Colleges Scotland’s college principals group; Matthew Sweeney, the policy manager for children and young people at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities; David Belsey, the assistant secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland; Diane Stockton, a consultant in public health at Public Health Scotland; John Edward, the director of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools; and Alastair Sim, the director of Universities Scotland. Paul Little, Matthew Sweeney, David Belsey and Diane Stockton are joining us remotely—I can now see your faces on the screen, which is good—and John Edward and Alastair Sim are with us in the committee room.

Good morning to you all, and thank you in advance for the evidence that you will share with us. Unfortunately, time is limited this morning, so please do not feel that you must answer every question that is posed. I will try my best to bring people in, but I have to ensure that the session concludes by 10:30 at the latest. Any outstanding matters can be followed up in writing.

I will start with a question for Alastair Sim. In the first page of your written submission to the committee, you say:

“At no point has the Scottish Government had to use the emergency powers in the existing Coronavirus Act 2020 with regard to higher education.”

Is that correct?

That is also true in relation to student accommodation, because the bill contains regulation on that, too. What is your response to that?

I will turn to Paul Little. In your written submission, you say:

“On the basis of this experience”—

the experience of college operations during the pandemic—

“we would advise that the intended provisions which have been proposed within the Bill are not required.”

Could you expand on that, please? Why are they not required?

Are we talking about the wrong things?

That is very interesting.

Michael Marra has a question about schools.

You mentioned being part of the ministerial group and being involved with the Government. Have you made those points directly to ministers?

That was very useful. I call Bob Doris.