Seòmar agus comataidhean

Good morning and a very warm welcome to the 27th meeting of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee in 2022. We have received apologies this morning from Maurice Golden MSP.

Our first item of business is a decision on taking an agenda item in private. Do members agree to take agenda item 3 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

That is supported unanimously around the room—or maybe not.

I will bring in Dr Hateley now. I see that Ms Hesketh-Laird wants to come in, too.

I think that our discussion has covered our three themes. Before I ask a question about levelling up and the Scottish Government, however, Mr Ruskell has a question.

Ms Hesketh-Laird, I know that you want to come back in, but could you pick up your point in your answers to subsequent questions from the committee? I will move to questions from Dr Allan.

Julie Hesketh-Laird has already addressed that. Does anyone else want to—

When you mentioned the border, did you mean the Northern Irish protocol border or did you mean different regulatory areas?

I think that everybody’s views have been aired, so unless anyone has anything more to add, we will move on to questions from Mr Cameron.

I think that committee members have exhausted their questions.

I thank everyone for attending. It has been a really interesting and engaging session, and I echo members’ thanks for all the written submissions that you provided as evidence prior to today’s meeting.

The committee will now move into private session.

I have two members who want to come in as well as a possible supplementary question, so if everyone could be as succinct as possible, that would be helpful.