Seòmar agus comataidhean

Okay.

At the beginning, you mentioned annex J, which is a pretty useful spreadsheet where we can find the policies that will make a big climate impact and those that might make a negative climate impact. Monica Lennon talked about woodlands and woodland grants, which are listed there.

In the interests of transparency, could a further level of information be provided? We have broad categories of things that are positive for the climate and that have a high impact on it, but if we were to drill down and say, for example, that we need to prioritise woodland grants or something else, how could we look at that and say that we need to do it because we know that it will result in a big impact, and how can we see the figures behind that? Is there a level of further information that would be useful when it comes to budget negotiations or other scrutiny?

That is really what my last question was about—that third strand of work and mainstreaming the net zero test across the whole of Government, making it integral to the budget process. I am a little bit concerned by the response that we had from Màiri McAllan, which seemed to suggest that the net zero test would not be intrinsic to the annual budget setting process. I am getting a slightly more nuanced position on that from you, Deputy First Minister. It is being piloted and extended across Government, but ultimately it needs to be there, even though it is not the only consideration when it comes to the budget.

Yes, it has been an interesting discussion. To follow on from that, where is green hydrogen right now, within the context of this year’s budget? Are the market opportunities near market, or are we still looking at far-market opportunities?

Looking at the hydrogen innovation scheme and what has been funded already, there are some really useful and interesting feasibility studies for quite small-scale application of green hydrogen. However, it feels as though a lot of that stuff is about demonstrating its value; it does not feel as though the full commercial opportunities are here—right here, right now. That may go back to your comment about offshore wind and the strategic focus. What is that focus for green hydrogen, perhaps in the longer term?

I have a final question about news coverage around the general election. There is obviously a very different political context in Scotland. We have two Government parties in the Scottish Parliament that do not stand candidates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. I am interested to know your emerging thoughts on how you will bring the general election alive in Scotland and reflect the particular nature of Scottish politics. The various political platforms here exist in a very different way from those across the rest of the UK.

Radio 6 Music’s “New Music Fix Live” series of events in Glasgow made for some great listening, blending in jazz and other genres for a different audience. All of that is available on Sounds, of course.

It comes back to the fundamental point that we were discussing in the committee the previous time, about bandwidth and the opportunity to be heard. Listening to “New Music Fix Live” was great, but that was just four days of content. Given where we are now, particularly with the removal of “Jazz Nights” and “Classics Unwrapped”, I am interested to know whether there is more or less airtime for new and emerging Scottish artists as a result of the changes that you have made. The “Scotland Young Jazz Musician” programme was fantastic, but it was only two hours. I am interested in the metric of how much space there is now for artists to get heard. Even though some of the content that I am hearing is very good, it is only little nuggets.

I, too, have had that sort of experience on a committee visit to Orkney, where I did a lengthy interview with BBC Radio Orkney.

I want to ask about support for emerging grass-roots artists. The context here is that, across the UK, at least one grass-roots music venue is shutting every single week. There is a real pressure there, and there is a declining opportunity for new artists to get heard, both on the radio and through live performance.

The other context here, which Mr Cameron has already started to discuss, is the cuts that you have put forward and have now implemented in jazz and classical music, the regular programming for which has been taken off air—although I know that you have instigated a number of other initiatives to try and fill that hole. I am interested to know what your focus is when it comes to grass-roots live music and emerging artists. We seem to be in a perfect storm in relation to support for grass-roots music across the UK, and I am concerned about how that relates to Scotland.

That would be useful. The BBC, as a public broadcaster, is there to help to create that platform. The point about live music venues is that that platform is declining, so if you are not going to do it, who else is? I would like to understand whether the platform is shrinking or getting bigger. It is a decision for you whether it is done by having a specialist programme or by getting particular genres or emerging artists into a range of other more mainstream programmes, but it would be very useful to know whether the platform is getting bigger or smaller, highlighting the opportunities that are there across genres.

I am interested in the metrics for new, emerging and live music—that is where we are seeing the need to expand the platform rather than see it being stripped down.

Are you looking at any particular innovative ways to improve or develop the way in which you approach elections this time around, or will it be very similar to previous elections?

I come back to your comments about how the additional £6.6 million will be allocated, and the priorities and themes in relation to that spend. The impression that we got from Creative Scotland last week is that there is to be a discussion with Government about your priorities. In your initial comments, you said that it is up to Creative Scotland to come forward with its priorities, but you also said that you expect a focus on the recovery of the sector, the sustainability of the sector and innovation in the sector. Will you say a bit more about that? It is not a vast amount of money, but where do you expect the focus to be? We hear that all those things are needed, but the creative sector has the potential to address wider societal needs. How much of that can really be developed with £6.6 million?