Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you for clarifying that. It is now on the record.

Paul, although the organisations that have expressed interest—in particular, Maritime UK, which will act as the secretariat—are relatively small in number compared with those on some CPGs, they cover a substantial part of the shipbuilding industry in Scotland. Will there be room for smaller players, if I can describe them as such? I see that you list the University of Strathclyde’s department of naval architecture, and I am aware of other technical courses that relate to shipbuilding. I presume that the CPG is open to an approach from such groups.

Excellent. Thank you for that. Since no other committee member wishes to raise a question, I thank Beatrice Wishart for attending. At agenda item 3, the committee will consider whether to approve the application for recognition. The clerks will inform you, Beatrice, of the committee’s decision thereafter.

The final group that we will consider today is the proposed CPG on sustainable transport. I welcome Graham Simpson MSP, who is its proposed convener. Good morning, Graham. Will you make an opening statement about the intentions of the CPG?

Agenda item 2 is consideration of applications for recognition from four proposed cross-party groups.

The first group that we will consider is a proposed CPG on beer and pubs. I welcome Craig Hoy MSP, who is the proposed convener of the proposed group. Good morning, Craig. I invite you to make a short statement in relation to the proposed CPG.

Are members content for me to sign off the committee’s report to the Parliament on the instrument?

Members indicated agreement.

Excellent. I suspend the meeting to allow for a changeover of witnesses.

Item 4 is subordinate legislation. We will hear evidence on the draft Scottish Local Government Elections Amendment Order 2022 from the Minister for Parliamentary Business, George Adam, and Lauchlan Hall and Iain Hockenhull, who are his officials from the Scottish Government. I welcome all of you to the committee and invite the minister to make a short opening statement.

Excellent. I have a slightly cheeky question. Was it a slight surprise to find that there was no pre-existing cross-party group on shipbuilding in Scotland?

Excellent. Elena Whitham has a question.

Do any other committee members have a question that they would like to pose? I take the general silence as a no.

Thank you for attending, Paul. The committee will consider whether to approve the application for recognition under agenda item 3. The clerks will inform you of our decision thereafter.