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Can I come in, convener?

In addition to the £4 million?

That would be great.

On the funding for the empire, slavery and Scotland’s museums steering group, I know that the project was very dear to the heart of former culture minister Christina McKelvie as well as, I think, Geoff Palmer, who died recently. I am very supportive of the project, but what is your level of confidence that the £5 million funding will come forward? If that funding were to come, would it come from the £20 million?

I went to the immersive Van Gogh exhibition, which was an incredible experience, but I forget how that was funded. I do not know whether there was private money behind that.

My final point is on genealogical research, social history and financial inclusion. You mentioned places where some of that is happening. The pressures on museums have also been raised, and I have said the same thing to Historic Environment Scotland, which does not do nearly enough to capitalise on the attractiveness of its assets.

My impression is that Edinburgh has been absolutely bursting at the seams this year, and I also hear that from people in other parts of Scotland. Many Americans have returned. Notwithstanding the climate challenge that that presents, of course, it seems that there is a huge opportunity there. A few years back I took a genealogical trip across to the Grand Central terminal in New York, and it was hugely oversubscribed, and there is Ellis Island, which will tell you about the appetite that is there.

I understand the point about cost, but local museums really need somebody who can answer genealogical queries. For example, if somebody from the States or Australia wanted to find out about their auntie who was from Forres or wherever it was, it would be great if they could go to a museum and talk to somebody who could help with genealogical research and social history. They would be getting a service that they could not get anywhere else.

On the financial inclusion point, it seems that if it is happening, it is happening piecemeal. Is there a case for saying in general to museums and libraries, “We are going to have to do new things to attract more people in?” Measures for financial inclusion could be a source of income.

I just wanted to say that it raises a really interesting point, because I think that this will require a change in attitude when it comes to monetising the assets that you hold. You could make the service free to local people, but the fact is that, if other folk are coming to use it, it puts a burden on the library. We should perhaps have that change in attitude: let us monetise this. That might well be difficult, given that, as Jamie Halcro Johnston has said, there are all these different ancestry organisations, but what I would say is this: these are your assets—try to monetise them.

I notice that a comparison is not made between Scotland and Wales or Northern Ireland, so is the comparison with England as supplemented by UK expenditure on acquisitions?

The comparison with Europe refers more generally to culture. I have heard Scotland compared to Lithuania, Ireland and the Czech Republic. The vital difference between Scotland and those countries is that Scotland is not a sovereign state and does not have access to full powers and so on. Are there any available comparisons with autonomous regions or devolved areas in Europe, or are there only comparisons with independent countries?

Coming back to the visitor levy, you will know that it is dependent on whether councils want to progress with it. Therefore, I am interested in the fact that it is appearing in what are essentially budget submissions to the Scottish Government. Is the ask that the Scottish Government, which is leaving this entirely to councils, be more forceful in asking councils, first of all, to have such a levy, and, secondly, to direct those proceeds to culture, museums and whatever else? That question is for any of the witnesses, but I think that it is an absolutely legitimate approach, and it should perhaps be the first call on any such revenues. After all, that is how you build investment for the future and bring in future visitors. However, what is the ask here, and of whom is it being made?

I was interested to read about the £11 million settlement. Many people will be reassured to hear that public authorities will challenge contracts that have not been properly delivered. Was any part of that process either informed by or done in conjunction with Audit Scotland? Did it help with that, or was it taken forward solely by HIE?

It will be for others to judge, but it would be useful to know whether you believe that you have met the concerns that have been raised. I suppose that that was the point of my question. As for other recommendations made by Audit Scotland and the Auditor General, there will be different views on their impact and scope, but do you consider those recommendations to have influenced your current practices? If so, can you give any examples of that?