Seòmar agus comataidhean

Finally, I will bring in Jackie Dunbar.

Thank you. It is important to point out that distinction. From now on, we will refer to you as the independent ferries community board.

Thank you very much. If you can leave that with us as part of our evidence, that will be very helpful.

You are giving us challenges as well, because you are taking forward the community voice to inform the islands connectivity plan. We, as your Parliament and as the committee that is responsible for transport, want to make sure that a light is shone on that area so that it can be fundamentally different. Hopefully, between us, taking things from different angles, we can shape the islands connectivity plan. We very much appreciate the work that you have done to date as volunteers.

We recognise that the community board is made up of volunteers and that you have an important task and responsibility. To do that work as volunteers is something that, naturally, we should recognise, so thank you very much for what you are doing.

Kirsty, thank you for joining us. Angus Duncan Campbell, I hope that you get back at some point—we can hear the howls of the wind outside. Thank you very much for taking part and sharing your views. That concludes the public part of our meeting. We now go into private session.

I am conscious that we have a lot of questions that we need to get through as well as evidence from the other witnesses. Is there anything you want to finish on, as part of your opening remarks?

Thank you very much. I will remind Alf Baird of the question. Will you briefly outline what island and remote rural communities need from their ferry service?

I am conscious that this is a—

We are having the inquiry in order to inform the next islands connectivity plan. You will be aware that the Parliament’s Public Audit Committee is looking into some of the issues that you are talking about.

I will move on to Roy Pedersen. In your introductory remarks, will you outline what you think island and remote rural communities need from their ferry service? That was the original question.

The Scottish Parliament has rules around that that are different from those of the Westminster Parliament. Unless the clerks can give me clarifications, I am afraid that I cannot give you any legal advice. I am not permitted by parliamentary rules to give you legal advice. If that was of concern, you might have wanted to seek advice on it before you came to give evidence. However, I assure you that the committee will treat everything that you say with respect. This is a public session, and it is on public record. If you want to seek advice on that, I can suspend the session. I can seek advice on what you can and cannot say in respect of being open to the action that you mentioned, but it would have been helpful to have clarified that in advance if that was a concern.

We are very grateful for your informed evidence, but a number of our colleagues have questions that they would like to ask.

Ashley, is there anything that you want to add?