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Thanks very much.

I have a question about inequality, particularly pay inequality. On that issue, we need look only at the position in Glasgow some years back, when the council fought tooth and nail to prevent equal pay for women. That issue has been overcome, I am glad to say, but is pay inequality, particularly gendered pay inequality, still a problem in Scotland’s councils, and something that we should continue to address?

That is really encouraging to hear. Thank you very much for that, Paul.

Robert, could you offer your perspective on the gender pay gap issue?

Thank you very much for that, Robert.

In your view, Paul Manning, how can we have an ageing workforce if more people are retiring early?

Have you had a similar experience in Glasgow, Martin Booth?

Councillor Short, what is your perspective on the gender pay gap issue? Is it getting better, and are we getting closer to where we should be?

Good morning, everyone. As we heard in the previous session, everyone wants more money to come to local government. There is a proposal on the table on council tax which, if approved, would bring £176 million extra into local government. Have your three councils reached a position on the proposal? What is your view on it?

How representative is the local government workforce of the communities that authorities represent? I put that question to the first panel, but I feel that the witnesses did not get close to answering it. What are your views? How representative is that cohort of people, especially those who are in senior positions, of the communities that they represent day to day? If that is an issue, what could we do to rebalance that? I ask Mo Baines to start off.

Councillor Short, do you have a perspective on this? How representative is the workforce of the communities that it serves? You are in Dundee City Council, are you not?

If the age trend continues to creep up, despite retirals, what on earth can we do to try to peg it back?