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Of course it is an income stream, but the question is about the purpose of that income. You are right that the purpose must be to ensure that it funds the mitigations that are required because of the developments that have been set out.

The airport has a commercial interest, and I respect that, but we have a regulatory and planning interest. Of course I expect the airport to comply with the reporter’s recommendation—with the direction that has been given by ministers.

No—the board is not the shareholder.

That type of work will be critically important in Ayrshire and other regions that have a critical employer area—Prestwick airport is not just one employer; there are a number of employers on the site—and a local college working together to consider and answer skills demands. It is important that they have a strong relationship in order to address any skills gaps that might exist and ensure that there is aspiration among the young people going through the college system and an understanding that they have good careers prospects in their local area. It is really important for people to feel that their home is a place where they can continue to live and have successful careers, and that they can be proud of where they live.

I am pleased that that relationship is developing. I look to support it, not least given the review by Mr Withers on what we need to do to reshape our skills agenda. I refer members to my colleague Graeme Dey’s statement earlier this week on how we are taking that forward. I am very pleased to see that interaction and relationship developing.

We can do things around long-term activity that are contingent on the sale, but they will need to be balanced against ensuring that we secure a sale. It will obviously be in any new owner’s interests to ensure that the airport has a good relationship with the local community and that it has a positive economic story to tell about the jobs that they are creating. Having strong domestic and local supply chain networks will determine the overall success and profitability of the airport. I suspect that those will all be important considerations for a potential buyer, and we want to ensure that those areas are successful for the airport in the long term.

That idea was contradicted by the earlier witnesses. There was a credible bid before the Covid pandemic, but it fell through because of the impact of the pandemic.

As I said in response to other questions, I want the airport to return to the commercial sector. We will not do that on just any terms; we want terms that will provide a clear future pathway for the airport and we want buyers to demonstrate that they have the finance and experience to make that a success and that there will be wider economic development for the local area. We will not sell on any terms; we want to ensure that those aims are realised and that we get the maximum possible return for the public purse as well as the maximum possible value for the Scottish economy.

I continue to encourage expressions of interest in the airport, and we will consider those in the appropriate manner.

We should consider the current economic environment. Airports and airlines have been through more than a little turbulence, if you will pardon the pun, particularly because of the Covid pandemic but also because of the other economic shocks of recent years.

I am hopeful that there will be continued interest in the airport, but I am not concerned about that, not least because the airport is in a good financial position and one that continues to improve. We are not a distressed seller and we will look at any expressions of interest based on the current strength of the asset.

The evidence that you heard earlier suggests that the two go hand in hand. The work that is being done to ensure that the airport is a going concern and is becoming a strong asset means that the long-term strategy is working.

The management team has taken strong day-to-day operational decisions and it continues operating in a way that will return the business to being a strategic economic asset for this country.

They will take first consideration and contact us if there is an expression of interest, and they will give us details about what has come forward. Obviously, that is predicated on an expression of interest going to them first. If it came to the Government, we would look to assess it, as well. The first port of call is through the board and the assessment process that comes through there.

I have to be careful, because I have two interests: a responsibility in determining some of those applications and the fact that we have shareholder ownership of the airport. Suffice it to say that I am aware of the situation. I heard the airport’s evidence this morning and, on my visit, I heard clearly its feeling about the impact of neighbouring wind farms.

The reporter has gone through a process, has concluded and has made a recommendation, which ministers have accepted. Obviously, I expect the airport to comply with the decision of the reporter and to ensure that there is an on-going negotiation with wind farm developers in order to ensure that a fair settlement is reached.