Seòmar agus comataidhean

Good morning. I offer everyone a warm welcome to the 17th meeting in 2022 of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee. We have received apologies from Maurice Golden, and I welcome Graham Simpson to the committee as his substitute. I invite Mr Simpson to make a declaration of any relevant interests.

I will open up the meeting to questions from the committee. I move first to Mr Ruskell, who joins us online.

I am comfortable with time if you want to ask your final question, Mr Simpson. It is entirely up to you.

I thank Ms Mahon, Ms Street and Ms Robinson for their attendance at committee this morning. We have particularly enjoyed having a BAFTA in the room; we do not normally experience that in the Scottish Parliament. Thank you very much for your attendance.

Five minutes.

Item 3 is Scotland’s census. From the National Records of Scotland, I welcome Paul Lowe, registrar general and chief executive, Peter Whitehouse, director of statistical services, and Anne Slater, director of operations and deputy registrar general. I invite the registrar general to make a brief opening statement.

Mr Lowe, the census work is not yet complete, although the deadline has passed. Can you give us a bit of background on what remains to be done and possible timescales for when we might have a report on the learning points from this year’s census?

I will move to questions from the committee. Ms Boyack is first.

Agenda item 1 is a decision on taking business in private. Are members content to take item 4 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

I am conscious of time, but Mr Ruskell wants to ask a question.