Seòmar agus comataidhean

Yes, we can.

Agenda item 3 is consideration of a Scottish statutory instrument. The committee is invited to note the Public Procurement (Agreement on Government Procurement) (Thresholds etc) (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2021. In its report, the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee drew the instrument to the attention of the Parliament because two errors were identified. The Scottish Government has acknowledged those errors and has laid an amending instrument. At this point, we are asked simply to note the instrument. Are members content to do so?

Members indicated agreement.

I thank the witnesses for bearing with us. The whole Parliament experienced a sudden internet outrage—sorry, I mean outage, which is an outrage. No, it is not an outrage—we understand that the broadcasting office has worked hard to resolve the issue and we are pleased to welcome the witnesses back.

Maggie Simpson has had to leave the meeting, as she notified. Colin Smyth has questions for the remaining witnesses.

Thank you, Mr Windsor.

Bryan Hepburn, would you like to talk a bit about the pressures that your business has faced and what you think are the main issues that are creating a challenging environment for our supply chains? Also, can you comment on how we can resolve some of the pressures? What would ease the situation?

Thank you. We move into private session.

You mentioned importing. Is the bureaucracy, rather than the shortage of goods, creating the blockages around imports? It sounds as if you can source the goods that you are trying to source but the difficulty is that people find the new system challenging.

Unfortunately, Professor Fernandes has had to briefly leave the meeting. I hope that he will be able to return.

I understand that Richard Ballantyne wants to come in on this point, so I invite him to do so.

Thank you, Ms Chapman.

We are extremely pushed for time. I will allow a brief question each from Jamie Halcro Johnston and Michelle Thomson. If the question could be directed to one panellist, that would be helpful.

There seems to be a problem with Maggie Simpson’s connection. Are other witnesses still available? No.

We will suspend for a couple of minutes so that we can resolve the technical issue.

You have helpfully set out the context of Covid and the pressures that that put on the sector, and you have talked about the changes to our customs relationship with Europe. On Scotland’s supply chain issues, and supply delays, there are the shortages that we are seeing on shelves, and there is the pressure on businesses to receive components. Which of those two factors is the bigger problem, or is it a combination of both?