Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you for that reassurance and encouragement. We have time for one more question from Meghan Gallacher.

I will go back to Elena Whitham, who has a couple of questions.

I am going to slip in a supplementary question from Mark Griffin on local government pay.

I will briefly suspend the meeting before we move to our next panel of witnesses.

As you have given such clear and succinct answers, cabinet secretary, we have a little more time. My colleague Miles Briggs has a short supplementary question.

Thank you for that. We are all very encouraged by the idea that we move to that wider-outcomes, community-empowerment approach.

Thank you for that response on multiyear funding and your intention to move in that direction.

Thank you for that response, cabinet secretary. I move on to a couple of questions from Miles Briggs.

Our second agenda item is consideration of whether to take in private agenda item 5, which is consideration of the committee’s work programme, and to take in private future consideration of its work programme. Do members agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Agenda item 3 is an opportunity for the committee to take evidence to inform its understanding of what its key priorities should be for this session. It is also an opportunity for the committee to inform its pre-budget scrutiny. The committee will take evidence virtually from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy and then take evidence from the Accounts Commission.

I warmly welcome to the committee for the first time in this session the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy. I also welcome her officials from the Scottish Government. Andy Kinnaird is a strategic engagement and planning reform co-ordinator, and Bill Stitt is team leader for revenue and capital, in the local government finance team.

I invite the cabinet secretary to make some opening remarks.