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There were a lot of noises off, as you call them, in political terms. Education is a huge issue in Scotland. It is a priority in people’s lives, and that is a jolly good thing. However, the Government was clearly in the driving seat and making the decisions.

There are many questions that I could ask, but I will put just one more question to you, because I want to bring my colleagues in. On the sampling issue, you make in your submission the rather incendiary comment that

“the EIS’s trust in teacher judgement was not matched by that of the Scottish Government”.

On what basis do you say that?

The point that I am trying to make is that you are saying something fairly damning about the Scottish Government’s trust and belief in teachers.

Before I bring in Kaukab Stewart, the deputy convener, I have a question for Tara Lillis on a subject that we touched on with the previous panel. Tara, you mention in your submission the concept of overassessment and the compression that went on in the assessments this year. Have you or any of your members sought to define that? If so, what conclusions have you reached?

I am sorry to interrupt—I do not wish to be rude—but I had better bring in my colleagues shortly. Is it fair to say that there were changes between the draft and the final report?

Under the next item, the committee must consider another piece of subordinate legislation. The regulations are being considered under the negative procedure.

As members have no comments to make on the regulations, are we agreed that the committee does not wish to make any recommendations in relation to the instrument?

Members indicated agreement.

Fair enough.

That is an interesting comment—it is “very confusing”.

Okay—that is a fair response. I will ask about changes that were made to the report between the draft and the final version. Were changes made at the request of the Scottish Government or any of the educational agencies?

As members have no comments, would the minister like to wind up?

Did you get that question, Beatriz?

Thank you very much for that.