Seòmar agus comataidhean

That is great. We move straight to members’ questions.

We move to questions from Ben Macpherson.

My role as convener is always to have an eye on the clock. It would be helpful if the witnesses could try to keep their responses as succinct as possible.

Ruth Maguire has a supplementary question.

We will come to specific questions about the financial memorandum later.

Good morning, and welcome to the 13th meeting in 2024 of the Education, Children and Young People Committee. The first item on our agenda this morning is our first oral evidence session on the Scottish Languages Bill at stage 1.

We have two panels of witnesses joining us today, so it is a busy morning. On our first panel, from the Scottish Government, we have Douglas Ansdell, team leader, Gaelic and Scots; Niall Bartlett, policy officer, Gaelic and Scots—did I pronounce your name correctly?

Thank you. We also have Claire Cullen, head of Gaelic and Scots; Ninian Christie, lawyer, economy and social protection division; and Nico McKenzie-Juetten, lawyer, school education division, legal directorate. I welcome you all.

Before we move to questions, Douglas Ansdell will make a brief opening statement. Douglas, you have up to three minutes. You do not have to push any buttons; the tech desk operator does everything for us, so it is hands free.

Sadly not.

Ruth Maguire wants to come in on this theme, and then we will come back to Willie Rennie.

How are we going to manage that variability in terms of sanctions and expectations?