Seòmar agus comataidhean

I want to press you on the Electoral Commission and the five-year plan. There has been a slight shift in power balance between Wales and up here in relation to who has the final say, and I want to explore your views as to which would be the better route to take.

The other point that I want to explore relates to the legal entity that is the EMB and the proposal to make it a body corporate. Presumably, given the EMB’s contractual requirements, you are reasonably relaxed about its being a legal entity. If so, I would just push past that to the proposal for two deputy convener posts—in essence, having people in two separate and distinct roles—and would seek to collect your views on that.

Thank you.

That is helpful. My other question is the looking-glass one. What are the big dangers coming down the line that face all elections, not just those in Scotland? Are you able to rank—I am going to regret this question, too—the threats to the electoral system?

Kay Sillars, I will come to you first, because you mentioned this, but I want to open the question up to the whole panel. The bill will give the Scottish Government power to spend money on democratic engagement in whatever way it feels has been identified. What should the priority be for that funding? As you mentioned, Kay, and as we have talked about, processes are neither the be-all and end-all nor the answer to everything. What should the priorities be for that funding?

Hannah Stevens, would you like to come in?

Thank you. James, what are your priorities?

Alice Kinghorn-Gray, would you like to come in on that point?

I can imagine some councillors being content with that.

The first question is, can you explain why that change is being proposed? The more important question is, do you envisage any unintended consequences as a result of the change, given that the proposed new date is but a year away from when local authority elections will take place? There is some concern about that narrowness of time, leading up to the election date, if there are any problems following final decisions.

My final question in relation to this part of the bill is, working back from the deadline of 30 April 2031, do you have sufficient time to be confident that you can hit the deadline and complete the review by then?