Seòmar agus comataidhean

I will address my question initially to Robbie Forbes—it is still on the code of practice. I understand that there is an existing code, and I am interested to hear whether that code could simply be updated.

So, the bill would provide the impetus for them to produce a code.

Yes; could you perhaps focus on one person?

Great—thanks. I will bring in Ivan McKee. Time is really ticking on.

The next item on our agenda is to take evidence from three panels of witnesses as part of our pre-budget scrutiny. I welcome our first panel. We are joined, in the room, by Sean Baillie, who is from GMB Scotland, and Linda Somerville, who is deputy general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, and, online, by Johanna Baxter, who is the head of local government at Unison. We were also due to hear from Graham McNab, who is the local government officer at Unite, but, unfortunately, he has been unable to join us.

We now turn to questions from members. We will try to direct questions to specific witnesses where possible, but if you would like to come in, please indicate that to the clerks, or, if you are joining us online, as Johanna is, type R in the chat function.

I have a broad opening question, which I will direct initially to Linda Somerville. Will you highlight the main challenge that you believe that the local government workforce currently faces?

Linda Somerville gave a comprehensive response, but Johanna Baxter and Sean Baillie are welcome to come in if they would like to add anything.

Thanks very much for that. In a previous answer, Robert Emmott mentioned the heat maps for his council’s workforce planning, which seems like an interesting process. Do all councils do that?

Thank you. I really appreciate your getting those figures, because what we have uncovered today is that, when you parse things, you start to get a fuller picture of what is going on. Would anyone like to add anything on that?

That is helpful.

That is great. I thank everyone for their responses. I call Willie Coffey.