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I remind the officials that, during stage 2 proceedings, they can advise the minister but are not allowed to speak. I also welcome Paul Martin MSP and Michael McMahon MSP, who are with us to speak to amendments in group 4.
We have verbal assurances from the minister—as one of the other MSPs pointed out—but there is nothing in the legislation.In fact, the situation is worse than it was last year.
That is not to say that engineering students are wasting their time, because if an engineer becomes an MSP or an investment banker, they will probably be better at their job, because the training that they get is very useful.
Before introducing agenda item 1, I welcome to the committee Mark Ballard MSP, who is not a committee member but is here to participate in discussion of our first agenda item.
As John Scott mentioned earlier, the SPCB has to authorise the Auditor General's salary, but the salary is paid by Audit Scotland. A separate body of MSPs scrutinises Audit Scotland's budget.
I can see the situation from its point of view: if someone else had ownership or control, they could interfere with the provider's running of the facility. That is frustrating. MSPs from your area, Ken, have raised that matter regularly in the Parliament.