Seòmar agus comataidhean

Bob Doris also has a line of questions about colleges.

We should explain that you are at the 26th United Nations climate change conference of the parties—COP26.

Stephen, did you catch all of that?

Yes.

Good morning, and welcome to the seventh meeting of the Education, Children and Young People Committee, which is being held virtually. The first item on our agenda is a decision on whether to take business in private. Are members content to take item 11 in private?

I am not hearing anything from anybody else, and I am getting “content” messages, so I think that we are all agreed.

We have a couple of supplementary questions on this subject area, which we have been discussing for 20 or 25 minutes now.

Michael Marra has a supplementary question on this issue, but I see that Stephanie Callaghan wants to say something first.

Please be brief, because I need to move the discussion along.

I thank Stephen Boyle, the Auditor General for Scotland, Sharon O’Connor, from the Accounts Commission, and Tricia Meldrum and Rebecca Seidal, who are senior managers at Audit Scotland, for being with us this morning.

It looks like we are having challenges with the mute buttons this morning. Sharon, can you come in? I think that you are on mute.