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Right.

You have mentioned the Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland. I am interested in exploring what that partnership working might look like. Would it effectively be a carbon copy of the relationship that GB Energy has with the Crown Estate? Would the relationship with Crown Estate Scotland be similar? Is there currently any detail on what that partnership working would potentially look like?

Indeed. It is highly unlikely.

Consenting planning would be the Scottish Government’s role in relation to that. Is it unlikely that we will see GB Energy and GB Nuclear looking at investment models for small modular reactors in Scotland, or eyeing up spaces for new nuclear or extensions?

Do you think that it is unlikely that GB Energy would be working on nuclear in Scotland?

Okay.

When will you next be able to update the committee? You are flying out tonight. In your letter of 18 December, you talked about the

“Risks and uncertainties”

around the

“supply of equipment and ... specialist contractors”.

You will have a clearer picture of that when you come back.

We will look forward to the good news.

You have already indicated that you are going out to public consultation. Would not it have been better to consult the unions in advance of that, particularly around aspects of crewing, when it comes to the Islay vessel?

The unions represent the workers who will be running the boats and the services. Would you not expect them to have insight into how services could better meet the needs of communities? That is their job—it is what they do every day.

That is a useful answer. As you say, it is quite a marginal change—15 minutes a day. My team in Parliament operates on a 30-hour week, and that does put a lot of pressure on productivity.

I just wonder how that change and a package of other measures might impact on your recruitment and retention. You are projecting a 5 per cent vacancy rate. Is it difficult for you to pin down what the vacancy rate will be? Are you working towards bringing that down and towards an outcome where you are more competitive? It might be difficult to match the salaries in the private sector, but what is the attractive package that you can offer?

For somebody who has caring responsibilities, 35 hours a week is better than 37 but it is not 32; it does not take half an hour off of each day to enable them to pick up the kids or go and see an elderly parent.

I am thinking about people who are making career choices to go with you rather than the private sector and about bringing down the vacancy rate. Is the reduction competitive alongside other actions that you are taking? How does it impact your budget? That is a bit of a holistic question.