Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you very much.

I go back to my earlier point. I concluded from your previous answers that the text underneath the sub-headings in the report is part of the recommendations, and you seem to have suggested that again. Am I correct in saying that?

Good morning, and welcome to the second meeting in 2021 of the Education, Children and Young People Committee.

I warmly welcome our newest committee member, Willie Rennie MSP, who is joining us for the first time. Willie replaces his colleague Beatrice Wishart MSP. I thank Beatrice for her work on this committee and on the Education and Skills Committee in the previous parliamentary session. We are sorry to lose her, but we are pleased to have Willie joining us.

I invite Willie Rennie to declare any relevant interests.

You have a slightly dodgy connection, but we heard you say that you have no relevant interests to declare.

Under the second agenda item, members are asked whether they are content to take agenda items 7 and 8 in private. Do members agree to do that?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you, and thank you to Bob Doris. I turn to Oliver Mundell.

We do.

It remains only for me to give you our sincere thanks for the two hours that you have given us this morning. We have subjected you to a lot of questioning and you have not wilted once. Thank you for that and for the tremendous benefit that you have given us by responding so fully to our questions. We are indebted to you and we appreciate that. Your time this morning has been an investment in our understanding of the work that you have done for us. Thank you very much indeed.

The public part of today’s meeting is now at an end. I ask members to reconvene immediately in Microsoft Teams, so that we can discuss our final two items in private.

Kaukab Stewart would like to make a comment, then I will ask one final question.

It was not possible.