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Okay. I ask the same question of Argyll and Bute Council. What might the uplift look like this year?

That is really useful. Thank you.

There has been comment already, in evidence given on the settlement for local government, about how challenging it is going to be to meet the overall strategic objectives. Do you think that the policy objectives that have been set out can be met under the current funding settlement?

Of course.

I have nothing further to ask on deferrals. That extra information is very useful.

It is very useful to have the specific examples from the various councils. The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has been keen to highlight the £24 million reduction to the specific ring-fenced grant for early learning and childcare, but I want to get some information from the witnesses about the impact of that reduction this year. I put that question first to Margot Black from Scottish Borders Council.

You talked about setting a sustainable rate for the PVI sector. As a result of those cuts, have you had to make any cross-subsidy into that pot from other parts of your budget?

Has the number of deferrals—when families choose to send their children to school in a later year—increased in your council area? That must be part of the calculations that you are undertaking.

I will ask Carrie Lindsay the same question. The Scottish Private Nursery Association recently wrote to the Scottish Government, saying:

“we do not believe it is the intention of the Scottish Government that its policy of funding 1,140 hours of ELC should fail; yet that is the outcome which the Government is facing”.

Does that ring true to you, Carrie?

It would be useful to have the number. If possible, it would also be helpful if you could provide information about what trend that number represents.

I echo the tributes that have been paid by other members to the petitioner and the work that she and her colleagues have done over the years. In general terms, I support the approach, and I make it clear that I am very supportive of the idea of statutory guidance and of making sure that the reporting is there. It would be proportionate to do that, given the seriousness of the concerns.

I am concerned about the timeframe of writing to the minister. In relation to a legacy paper and perhaps looking at the issue again in the next parliamentary session, which is perhaps four years away, that feels to me to be at the far end of when an evaluation should take place. I would be comfortable if we asked the minister specifically what on-going monitoring of the impact is taking place, year by year. That would give me confidence that the proposed approach is the right one.