I think that Mr Hoy is aware—I hope he is—that the operational management of Historic Environment Scotland is for Historic Environment Scotland. I share with him the wish that our historic sites are able to be open, and that is why the Government has provided Historic Environment Scotland with the funds. It is only a shame that Mr Hoy voted against that in the budget.

I have discussed the matter with officials today. When I questioned why they did not notify me of the invitation sooner, the reason that they outlined was that it was to protect the independence of the investigation, and I understand that.

In the interests of completeness, I point out that officials have today advised me that Dr Hall requested meetings with the board on 24 July in a meeting and by email on 12 and 29 August. At that time, officials advised Dr Hall that, irrespective of a meeting, I was fully engaged with matters at Historic Environment Scotland. Work has since moved on to supporting the efforts of the new chair, Sir Mark Jones, to resolve the well-documented issues at Historic Environment Scotland and appointing the two new interim board members to support Sir Mark, those being Ray Macfarlane and Susan Deighan.

Paul McLennan has asked a very important question, which relates to issues that I have already narrated to Neil Bibby. We need to ensure that Historic Environment Scotland, under new leadership, has the resources at its disposal to deal with the issues relating to its leadership that have come to public attention. That is why my officials and I have been very supportive in ensuring that Historic Environment Scotland has the capacity to deal with the challenges that it is trying to deal with. That has involved the appointment of a new chairman of the board, which I have undertaken, the appointment of two new interim board members, which I have undertaken, and the provision of support relating to the appointment of a chief operating officer for Historic Environment Scotland.

Those are the appropriate Government interventions to ensure that Historic Environment Scotland is able to deal with the problems that exist in the organisation and to move on and focus on the key role that it performs in our country.

I take very seriously the issues that have been reported at Historic Environment Scotland. I am very clear that, on the whole, HES is an excellent organisation, with hard-working staff who look after one of this country’s most valuable assets—its historic environment.

Scottish Government officials have been working closely with the HES board and leadership team to improve the organisation’s leadership and governance. As a result of that, together with the appointment of Sir Mark Jones, Ray Macfarlane and Susan Deighan, along with a new chief operating officer, I am confident that HES will soon leave these issues behind it and go from strength to strength.

The chair has to get to grips with a lot of issues at the arm’s-length body, and I assure Mr Bibby that I have told Sir Mark Jones that he has my total support. I have appointed two new interim board members to strengthen the team around him, there should be a new chief operating officer at Historic Environment Scotland, and I have given him the assurance that I will give him any support that he needs. That is the Scottish Government’s position, and I hope that Neil Bibby supports that, too.

I make it clear that I asked officials why they did not share the information with me. Although I understand their reasoning, I have been clear that, going forward, I am to be kept informed of any such requests in a timely fashion.

In answer to the question that has been posed to me, the level of engagement between the Scottish Government and Historic Environment Scotland in relation to its problems of governance—

I was not aware of any such invitation when I attended the committee last week. Senior officials have now confirmed that they had not advised me of the request from the former chair, as they were seeking to address a number of sensitive matters at Historic Environment Scotland prior to providing me with advice.

Perhaps the most pressing sensitivity was that the on-going investigations at Historic Environment Scotland included one into the conduct of the former chair, Dr Hugh Hall. Subsequent to his request, Dr Hall then indicated his resignation to the Scottish Government, some months prior to the end of his term. That brought the investigation into his conduct to an end and, as a result, his request to meet the board was superseded.

Its problems of governance, as an arm’s-length organisation, are extremely serious. We are very closely involved in supporting Historic Environment Scotland, under the new chairmanship of its board, to ensure that it emerges from the challenges of its own making and is able to perform the functions that, I hope, all of us across the chamber believe are its core business.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Apologies—I could not connect, either. I would have voted yes.

The answer to Neil Bibby’s question is quite simple. I have made it absolutely clear to Sir Mark Jones that I am happy to meet the board, under his chairmanship, whenever he feels the time is right.

I hope that Mr Bibby agrees that it is right for us to support the incoming chair of the board and his leadership of Historic Environment Scotland. [Interruption.]