Seòmar agus comataidhean

Okay. I will move on, which will probably help to facilitate discussion of what you intend to do. There has been an increase in the number of admissible complaints that you receive. Are you in a position to express a view as to why that number is going up? What would you like the committee to know, from your point of view, about why it is going up?

Absolutely. I understand that Bob Doris has a supplementary comment.

We can see you talking, but we cannot hear you. I will pass over to Paul McLennan to ask his questions, and the broadcasting team will get back to us about your connection. I am sorry about that.

You are up sooner than we thought, Paul. Over to you.

You mentioned your annual reports, but what would be the advantages of placing annual planning and reporting requirements on the Scottish Government? Would that not be too onerous?

As part of spreading the understanding of board roles across Scotland’s civic society and beyond, an annual publication will always give the advantage of press interest in these events. If people understood more of what the roles on boards were, perhaps we would see a wider pool of people putting themselves forward. Is that fair?

Do you feel that the criticism of being overprescriptive is unfair because, within its own confines, the code allows for innovative thinking? As you say, the approach, which is based on the very foundations of the code, is about getting the right person in the right place, and the code would allow that to happen.

I am grateful for that comment. Are you back with us, Bob?

So it is in relation to those very specific areas that committees involve themselves in.

You have talked about the very small pool in which people go fishing for board members. Are you confident that the revised code can break that dam or widen the pool?

I have no relevant interests to declare.

I like committees that move this fast.