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Lastly, on that point, do you think we will keep any element of remote learning as we go forward, or will we go back to normal and have everybody in school? Will we lose the advantages that remote learning gave us when we go back?

Thank you very much for that.

I thank you both very much for your answers.

You have probably answered an additional 10 questions in that reply, but it is important to hear what you have to say. Did you hear the cabinet secretary say that we really need to improve care services across the board in Scotland and that we want to establish consistency so that everyone can expect the same level and quality of service? What impact does that have on councils’ autonomy and the local decision-making process that councils might deploy in that delivery? Is it about squaring that circle to achieve that outcome while retaining local democratic control of delivery?

It is important to hear your views, Councillor Evison, on the national care service proposals. We spoke to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government earlier. Although the proposals do not fall within her direct remit, she has responsibility for local government. Does COSLA support the principle of a national care service?

Cabinet secretary, will you share a few words with the committee on the national care service consultation that is taking place? As you know, Scotland’s councils will implement the national care service but, through its president, from whom we will hear shortly, COSLA says that we will lose substantial local autonomy. In fact, COSLA’s president has described it as “an attack on localism”. Will you address those concerns for the committee, and explain how you propose to deal with them?

Do you see a possibility of extending the consultation period? COSLA is saying that there is a pretty short timescale to introduce the idea and that the consultation process has been a bit narrow. Is it possible that the Government would consider extending the deadline?

Has COSLA had any direct engagement with the UK Government on the question of former European Union structural funds, levelling-up funds or shared prosperity funds? Last week, you might have heard the cabinet secretary say that there had been no engagement between the Scottish and UK Governments during the entire process. Has COSLA had that direct engagement with the UK Government? Do you share the cabinet secretary’s concerns about the potential impact of that on the Scottish block grant?

Is there a potential issue for local autonomy in much the same way that we discussed earlier in relation to the national care service? Does the process pose any threat to local decision making and accountability?

I was pleased to hear the earlier discussion about the nature of audit work, which is about identifying not just failure but success. Over the years, I have sometimes felt that people are scared to come to this committee.