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Provided that there is cross-party participation in a group, whether or not the group’s focus is consistent with a party’s or Government’s policy is not really relevant. The relevant issue is that there is cross-party participation. For example, I might be involved in a number of cross-party groups that have positions or views that the current Government might not approve of. That would not be a reason for not having those groups.

Do you accept that the narrative around the closure is that hundreds of jobs—potentially thousands—will be lost, with a devastating impact on the Grangemouth and Falkirk area? Do you accept that?

What is your modelled impact on the supply chain of a potential closure?

This is the quote:

“We want to keep jobs in manufacturing here but Labour hasn’t understood that we need supplies. I need ... gas, ready, cheap and available as a feedstock.”

Is that wrong?

There is one last question from me about the timeline. When did you notify the UK and Scottish Governments? I have been involved in the closure of plants. Such things do not happen just in the few days before one makes an announcement; they take months of intricate planning. I think that it is slightly disingenuous to suggest that the decision was made and announced within a few days, because it was obviously a long time in planning. When did you inform the UK and Scottish Governments of your intention to make an announcement on that day?

That was not the first that they knew about it, though.

The cabinet secretary will know that my number 1 concern as a member for Central Scotland is for the constituents who are directly impacted.

Judging by what you have said today, would it be fair to say that you are not optimistic about the refinery’s future? There was one mention in your answers of extending the life of the refinery, but you are not optimistic about it, are you?

It was indeed.

You were not as surprised as the rest of us were by the announcement. You had had a year’s notice that it was likely to happen.

A holistic economic assessment would take care of that. Will that be available in the first quarter?

All right. I accept what you are saying. Can I quickly ask some very specific questions?