Chamber and committees

In the region that I come from, we see a concessionary scheme that is giving £400 million or so to encourage people to use buses, but neither young people nor older people can use it on ferries. Is this not the moment to extend concessionary travel to those people who use the islands’ buses, which are ferries? Do you not think that there is some inequality there?

You know every licence that SEPA has ever issued.

That delved into my question. Since 2016, there has been a 67 per cent increase in the amount of money that is paid in concessionary fares but only a 13.5 per cent increase in the number of concessionary trips. That is a huge increase in money with very little movement at the other end, is it not, minister?

Minister, I accept that there has been a long-term decline, but you are throwing more and more money at it and getting a smaller increase in the number of concessionary trips. Throwing money at it does not seem to be the answer.

What about those in existence before SEPA took control?

Okay. Good luck with finding all those. That is an interesting comment.

I remind everyone that I was clear about my entry in the register of members’ interests.

The salmon farming industry has seen 25 per cent fish mortality—although I believe that got better towards the end of last year—with 33,000 tonnes of dead fish being disposed of in 2023. Do you believe that you are on top of that? Surely, the incident that Alex Flucker has talked about would give everyone cause for concern that you might not be on top of it.

Welcome back. Our fourth item of business is an evidence session with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, focusing on the agency’s annual report, accounts and current priorities. I welcome Lisa Tennant, the chair; Nicole Paterson, the chief executive officer; Kirsty-Louise Campbell, the chief officer for governance, performance, and engagement; Alex Flucker, the chief operating officer for data, evidence, and innovation; and David Harley, the head of regulation, business and environment. Thank you for the written submission.

Before we move to questions, Nicole will make a brief opening statement.

Is that approach based on information that you have gathered or information that is given to you by the industry?

We go back to you, Michael, for more questions, I think, outwith Aberdeen.