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I have a quick supplementary. Everyone has mentioned the overheads and business costs that are associated with working their way through the regulations. Indeed, we saw the same thing in our trade of goods inquiry, in which it was clear that bigger organisations, such as Scottish Salmon, were more able to absorb such costs. However, some of our smaller manufacturers have had to stop trading with the EU because they cannot absorb the costs. I understand that you do not have a lot of data on the actual numbers and the volume of legal work that was happening, but have you had any indication from your members that smaller firms have been affected in a way that some of the bigger firms in Edinburgh have not?

I will wind up with a final question, which is for Dr Marks and Dr Anderson in particular. Thank you for mentioning the previous work of the committee, Dr Marks, and the fact that you are now on the domestic advisory group. Why was that such an important step for you, and how do you see your role on that group going forward?

Good morning, and a warm welcome to the 24th meeting in 2024 of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee.

I put on record our thanks to Meghan Gallacher for her work on the committee and wish her well in her new role on the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee.

The first agenda item is a declaration of interests. I extend a warm welcome to Stephen Kerr, who joins the committee today and invite him to declare any relevant interests.

Our second agenda item is to begin to take evidence on the second phase of our inquiry in relation to the review of the European Union-United Kingdom trade and co-operation agreement. The committee published its report on the first phase of the inquiry, focused on trades and goods, in September. The second part of the inquiry will focus on trade and services and mobility.

We are joined by Dr Adam Marks, international policy executive at the Law Society of Scotland, and Dr Ross Anderson, advocate, Faculty of Advocates. We are also joined online by Professor David Collins, professor of international economic law, City St George’s, University of London.

I will begin with a couple of questions. I will then invite members to indicate if they want to come in. I hope that we will be able to accommodate supplementaries from the committee.

What are the biggest concerns arising from the TCA in relation to legal services provision? Are you able to offer any solutions? Thinking more positively, are there any upsides to the TCA at the moment?

Okay. Dr Anderson, you mentioned transparency, I think. Do you want to comment on that a bit further?

I want to ask about people registering with the bar in Ireland. One aspect that we have been considering is whether there is any detriment to businesses in Scotland compared with those in Northern Ireland, which of course is still in the free trade agreement. Could you expand on that? What is the benefit to Scottish lawyers of registering there? Is there mutual recognition between Ireland and Scotland on the aspects that we have just discussed? Perhaps you could explain that a bit more for us.

Effectively, they are taking their business from Scotland or England to Ireland.

I move to questions from the committee.

Professor Collins, do you want to comment?

Good morning. I warmly welcome everyone to the 23rd meeting in 2024 of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee. Our first agenda item is a decision on taking business in private. Are members content to take items 3 and 4 in private?

Members indicated agreement.