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If we have stability in gas prices at a lower level than at present but still higher than before, will that not make other forms of energy such as renewables more competitive, which might open up the market a bit more in the long run?

Just a second—Andy King would like to come in.

I am sorry—I had understood that you wanted to come in at this point.

You only missed five minutes.

I thank the witnesses from the OBR for their comprehensive answers, which are much appreciated. That concludes our public session.

Okay. Thank you for that.

Paul Johnson, who is the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said:

“what we are really doing is reaping the costs of a long-term failure to grow the economy, the effects of population ageing, and high levels of past borrowing”.

He concluded by saying:

“we are in for a long, hard, unpleasant journey; a journey that has been made more arduous than it might have been by a series of economic own goals”.

What could the UK Government do differently and what should the Scottish Government do differently, in the view of the IFS?

We are basically walking a tightrope.

How much was the UK spend on interest on its debt in the most recent month for which you have figures?

I will open the session to colleagues. The first question is from the deputy convener, Daniel Johnson.

Even in the broadest sense, if we have 1.6 million or 1.7 million people who are unemployed and about 5 million who are economically inactive, that will clearly have a major impact on growth, productivity and tax revenues.