Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you, I am enjoying your transparent honesty about what you have discovered. Kaukab Stewart, the deputy convener, will ask the next questions.

James was obviously sharing his views on his colleague’s point of view. I hope that we will be able to maintain a degree of good manners, which I think we have done so far.

I am sorry to interrupt you, Stephanie, but perhaps you would reprise your question to Professor Stobart. We lost you for a few seconds, which broke up the question.

Bob, would you like to come back in or are you content?

We really thank you, Professor Stobart. We have put you through your paces over the past hour and three quarters, and you have given us lots to think about. It has been a robust session. It has been honest, frank and fair. On behalf of all members, I thank you for your paper and your presence at the committee.

The public part of today’s meeting is now at an end. I ask members to reconvene on Microsoft Teams, which will allow us to consider our next agenda items in private.

I will allow one more supplementary question. I appeal to colleagues to make supplementaries really short and pithy.

Stephanie Callaghan has the next line of questions.

Absolutely. I am delighted to facilitate that. You might be speaking for a number of the rest of us as well. We will suspend for about five minutes.

Yes—and quite difficult to capture in a single report such as this one, as you said.

If I understood you correctly, Professor Stobart, you seemed to indicate that, with regard to educational opportunities, there was a cultural bias against that particular pathway. I think that Michael Marra has some questions on cultural connotations.